Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, has expressed deep sorrow following the death of former head coach Festus Adegboye Onigbinde at the age of 88.
Onigbinde, widely regarded as one of the most respected figures in Nigerian football history, passed away on March 9, 2026, just days after celebrating his 88th birthday, according to a family statement signed by Mrs. Bolade Adesuyi.
The Super Eagles paid tribute to the late coach in a statement on social media, describing him as “a respected leader and a true servant of Nigerian football” and offering condolences to his family.
Onigbinde’s contributions to Nigerian football were historic and far‑reaching. He was the first indigenous coach to lead Nigeria at a FIFA World Cup, guiding the Super Eagles at the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan, and earlier took the team to the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations.
Tributes have also poured in from across the sporting community, including the President and football officials, recognising his legacy as a pioneer, mentor and advocate for the growth of indigenous coaching in the country.
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