The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Technical Director and two-time Head Coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s national team, Adegboye Onigbinde.
The federation described his passing as “the exit of a great man who served Nigeria football wholeheartedly and was diligent and devoted to the development of the game.”
In a statement, NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi said the late Modakeke high chief made remarkable contributions to football development in Nigeria and beyond.
“Indeed, a big tree has fallen. Chief Onigbinde ate, drank, breathed, slept and lived football development,” Sanusi said.
“We will miss him greatly, as he was never tired of giving advice on the game’s development even at his ripe old age. We pray that God will grant him eternal rest, and also grant his family, relations, friends and the Nigeria football fraternity the fortitude to bear the big loss.”
Renowned globally for his deep understanding of football tactics and techniques, Onigbinde served as Technical Director of the NFF and also worked as Technical Adviser to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation, where he oversaw the country’s youth teams.
He was also a long-serving technical adviser to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and participated in several Technical Study Groups organised by both CAF and FIFA at major international tournaments.
Onigbinde began his coaching career in the 1960s and gained national recognition in 1977 when he guided Water Corporation FC of Ibadan to the quarter-finals of the African Champion Clubs Cup.
Seven years later, he led Ibadan-based Shooting Stars FC to the final of the same continental competition.
Widely respected as a teacher and mentor, Onigbinde became the first indigenous coach to lead Nigeria’s senior national team to a medal at the Africa Cup of Nations, winning silver with a largely inexperienced squad at the 1984 tournament in Côte d’Ivoire.
He later guided the Super Eagles to qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan, where Nigeria faced Argentina, Sweden and England in the group stage.
Onigbinde became the first indigenous coach to manage the Super Eagles at the FIFA World Cup, following foreign managers Clemens Westerhof, who led Nigeria at the 1994 tournament, and Bora Milutinović, who managed the team in 1998.
After his coaching career, he continued to serve football as an instructor and educator for the NFF, CAF and FIFA, dedicating much of his later years to mentoring and training football coaches across the continent.
