The National Sports Commission (NSC) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Super Eagles coach, Festus Adegboye Onigbinde, describing him as one of the towering figures in the history of Nigerian football.
Onigbinde, a respected football tactician and administrator, led Nigeria to the 2002 FIFA World Cup and also served as a technical instructor for Fédération Internationale de Football Association and the Confederation of African Football.
Reacting to the news, the Director-General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, described the late football icon as a monumental figure whose legacy will endure for generations.
“A true iroko has surely fallen. High Chief Adegboyega Onigbinde was nothing short of a football legend and an enigma whose impact resonated across the global football ecosystem,” Olopade said.
Olopade noted that the late Modakeke High Chief devoted more than five decades to the advancement of Nigerian football through coaching, mentorship, and technical leadership.
“His patriotism and immense contributions to the development of Nigerian football over five decades cannot be overemphasised. His legacy as a former national team coach and as a CAF and FIFA technical instructor will continue to shape the sport for decades to come,” he added.
Widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern football development in Nigeria, Onigbinde played a significant role in coaching education and football development programmes across Africa during his time as an instructor for both CAF and FIFA.
The NSC extended its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and the Nigerian football community over the passing of the revered Modakeke High Chief, whose influence on the game will remain indelible.
