Former Nigeria national football team coach Adegboye Onigbinde has died at the age of 88, his family confirmed in a statement released on Monday evening. The family described the late coach as a towering figure in Nigerian football and community leadership, noting that his legacy extended far beyond the pitch.
“With great gratitude to God for a life well spent, we announce the passing of this great man… High Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde,” the statement reads in part.
They expressed gratitude for what they called a fulfilled life and prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul. Funeral arrangements, the family added, will be announced at a later date.
A high chief in Modakeke, Onigbinde was widely respected for his contributions to the development of football in Nigeria and across Africa, as well as for his advocacy for the recognition of indigenous coaches.
Throughout his career, he championed the promotion of locally trained coaches within Nigeria’s football system, arguing that homegrown expertise was critical to the country’s sporting progress.
One of the defining moments of his coaching career came at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, where he guided Nigeria to the final.
The national team eventually finished runners-up after a 3–1 defeat to Cameroon national football team.
Onigbinde later made history as the first indigenous coach to lead Nigeria at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where the Super Eagles competed at football’s biggest global tournament hosted by South Korea and Japan.
Beyond his national team achievements, Onigbinde also served as an instructor for Confederation of African Football and FIFA, mentoring coaches and supporting football development initiatives across the African continent.
