Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has paid tribute to former Super Eagles head coach Festus Adegboye Onigbinde, who died at the age of 88.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Onigbinde, a respected tactician who led Nigeria to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan, passed away on Monday evening.
Sanwo-Olu described the death of the Modakeke-born football figure as a painful loss to Nigeria and the wider football community.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, the governor said Onigbinde left a lasting mark on Nigerian football.
The statement reads, “The death of Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde is a painful loss to the country. Nigeria has lost a legend and national icon. He was one of the best Nigerian coaches in football history. He was a highly respected Nigerian soccer tactician and served as a CAF and FIFA Technical Instructor for many years.
“Chief Onigbinde served Nigeria passionately as coach of the Green Eagles between 1982 and 1984, guiding Nigeria to the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations. In 1984, he also coached the Shooting Stars Sports Club in Ibadan and took the club to the final of the Africa Club Champions Cup. He was also recalled at a crucial period to coach the Super Eagles during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
“He was a respected football icon and leader who made positive impacts during his lifetime. He would be sorely missed. I want to urge his family, friends, colleagues, and football fans to accept the death of Chief Adegboye Onigbinde as the will of God.
“I pray to God for eternal peace for the late Chief Adegboye Onigbinde and grant the family, friends and football fans the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
Onigbinde also served as Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation and later worked with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association as Technical Adviser for youth teams.
He spent several years contributing to football development as a technical adviser to the Confederation of African Football and a member of technical study groups organised by FIFA at major tournaments.
Onigbinde began his coaching career in the 1960s and rose to national prominence in 1977 after guiding Water Corporation FC of Ibadan to the quarter-finals of the African Champions Cup.
His reputation grew further in 1984 when he led Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan to the final of the continental competition.
A respected teacher of the game, he became the first indigenous coach to guide Nigeria’s senior national team to a medal at the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, where the Green Eagles finished runners-up with a squad made up largely of young players.
Nearly two decades later, he returned to the national team setup and led Nigeria to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first indigenous coach to manage the country at the global tournament.
Nigeria lost narrowly to Argentina and Sweden and drew with England during the competition.
After stepping away from the dugout, Onigbinde remained active in the game as an instructor for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), CAF and FIFA, mentoring coaches and administrators across Africa.