- Festus Onigbinde dies at 88, family confirms
- Former Super Eagles coach led Nigeria to AFCON 1984 silver
- Managed Nigeria at the 2002 FIFA World Cup
- Respected CAF and FIFA technical instructor
Nigeria’s football community has been thrown into mourning following the death of former Super Eagles coach Festus Onigbinde, a respected football tactician and pioneer of indigenous coaching, who passed away on March 9, 2026, at the age of 88.
Former Super Eagles manager High Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde has died at the age of 88, bringing to a close the remarkable life of one of Nigeria’s most respected football figures.
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His family confirmed the news in a statement on Monday, describing his passing as the end of an era for a man whose contributions helped shape the growth of Nigerian football.
Onigbinde was widely admired as one of the pioneers of indigenous coaching in Africa, becoming the first Nigerian to lead the national team at a time when foreign coaches dominated the continent’s football landscape.
One of the defining moments of his coaching career came in 1984, when he guided the Super Eagles to a silver medal finish at the Africa Cup of Nations, cementing his place in Nigeria’s football history.
Years later, he returned to manage the national team again and led Nigeria to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan. During that tournament, he was praised for giving opportunities to emerging talents and introducing a fresh generation of players into the squad.
“His passing marks the end of an era,” the family said in a statement confirming the death of the former Super Eagles coach.
Beyond his achievements on the pitch, Onigbinde also built a reputation as a respected technical instructor for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA, helping to train coaches and improve football development standards across Africa and beyond.
His influence extended far beyond Nigeria, as many football professionals who passed through his programmes went on to shape the sport in different parts of the world.
The death of Festus Onigbinde has sparked tributes from across the Nigerian football community, with many remembering him as a mentor, teacher, and pioneer who dedicated his life to the development of the game.
