Adegboye Onigbinde, a former head coach of the Nigeria national football team, has died at the age of 88.
Onigbinde’s family confirmed his passing in a statement released on Monday evening.
The statement described him as a towering figure in the Nigerian football and community leadership.
“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.
The family thanked God for what they described as a fulfilled life and prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul.
Onigbinde, a Modakeke high chief, was widely respected for his immense contributions to the development of football in Nigeria and beyond.
Known for his strong advocacy for indigenous coaching, he played a significant role in promoting locally trained coaches in the country’s football system.
One of the highlights of his career came at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, where he guided Nigeria to the final.
The team eventually finished as runners-up after a 3–1 defeat to the Cameroon national football team.
Onigbinde was the first indigenous coach to take Nigeria at the FIFA World Cup, leading the national team to the 2002 edition of football’s biggest global tournament hosted by South Korea and Japan.
Beyond his national team achievements, Onigbinde is regarded as a pioneer of indigenous coaching in Nigerian football, with significant contributions to the growth of the game through his work as an instructor for the Confederation of African Football and FIFA, where he mentored coaches and supported football development initiatives across Africa.
The family said details of his funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.
