More tributes have continued to pour in following the death of former Super Eagles coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, who passed away on Monday night.
Reacting to the news, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) described the passing of its former Technical Director and two-time head coach of the senior men’s national team as “the exit of a great man who served Nigerian football wholeheartedly and was diligent and devoted to the development of the game.”
NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, said the Modakeke high chief was “an extraordinary achiever who impacted positively not only on Nigerian football, but also on the African and global game at large.”
He added: “Indeed, a big tree has fallen. Chief Onigbinde ate, drank, breathed, slept and lived football development. We will miss him greatly, as he was never tired of offering advice on the development of the game even at his ripe old age. We pray that God will grant him eternal rest and also grant his family, relations, friends and the Nigerian football fraternity the fortitude to bear this great loss.”
Also paying tribute, former Super Eagles captain Segun Odegbami described Onigbinde as a close confidant and a master of the game whose uncommon coaching methodology helped discover and nurture talents such as Rashidi Yekini from Kaduna, as well as Femi Opabunmi, who featured at the senior World Cup at the age of 17. He also credited the late coach with developing the Sodje brothers.
Odegbami noted that Onigbinde’s coaching philosophy even attracted the curiosity of international observers during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Former Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Patrick Ekeji, also expressed shock at the coach’s passing, describing him as a remarkable and gentle personality.
Another former international, Felix Owolabi, said that living to the age of 88 and passing peacefully in his sleep was a testament to God’s grace upon his life.
“One thing, however, stands out: his name will continue to be remembered in the sands of time for all he did for his country, Africa, and the world of football,” Owolabi said.
