Tinubu Mourns Passing of Former Super Eagles Coach Adegboye Onigbinde

President Bola Tinubu has expressed profound condolences following the death of High Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde, the legendary football administrator and the first indigenous head coach of the Super Eagles.

Chief Onigbinde passed away on Monday at the age of 88, as confirmed by a statement from his family.

In a tribute released through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described Onigbinde as a man of immense discipline, integrity, and foresight who left an indelible mark on the “round-leather game” both in Nigeria and globally.

The President extended his sympathies to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the National Sports Commission (NSC), and the people of Modakeke, where Onigbinde held a high-ranking traditional title.

Tinubu noted that Onigbinde’s leadership was historic, particularly his stint in 1984 when he guided the Super Eagles to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations. The President’s message emphasized that the late coach’s contributions to grassroots football and administrative strengthening within the Nigerian sports sector served as a blueprint for subsequent generations of indigenous coaches.

Onigbinde’s career spanned several decades and included two distinct tenures as the national team manager. After his initial 1982–1984 term, he returned to lead the Super Eagles to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

Beyond his coaching duties, he was a respected technical instructor for both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA. His family has expressed gratitude for his fulfilled life and national service, stating that funeral arrangements will be communicated to the public in due course.