Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the passing of former Super Eagles coach, Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde, describing his death as a great loss to Nigeria and the football community.
Onigbinde, who led Nigeria to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea, died on Monday at the age of 88.
Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, described the late Modakeke-born football icon as a legend who made significant contributions to the development of football in Nigeria.
The governor also extended his condolences to the family of the late coach, the Osun State Government and the Nigerian Football Federation over the loss.
According to Sanwo-Olu, Onigbinde was one of the best Nigerian football coaches in history and a highly respected tactician who served as a Confederation of African Football and FIFA Technical Instructor for many years.
He noted that the late coach served Nigeria passionately between 1982 and 1984 as head coach of the Green Eagles, guiding the team to the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations.
Sanwo-Olu added that in the same year, Onigbinde coached Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan to the final of the Africa Club Champions Cup, further cementing his reputation as a top tactician.
He recalled that Onigbinde was later recalled at a crucial period to lead the Super Eagles at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
The governor described the late coach as a respected football icon whose contributions to the growth of the sport would not be forgotten.
He prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and urged his family, friends and football fans to accept his passing as the will of God.
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Globally respected for his deep tactical knowledge, Onigbinde also served as Technical Director of the Nigerian Football Federation and Technical Adviser to youth teams of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation.
He was also a long-serving technical adviser to the Confederation of African Football and participated in several Technical Study Groups of FIFA and CAF at major championships.
Onigbinde began his coaching career in the 1960s and gained national prominence in 1977 after leading Water Corporation FC of Ibadan to the quarter-finals of the African Champions Cup.
In 1984, he guided Shooting Stars FC of Ibadan to the final of the same continental competition.
A renowned teacher and instructor, Onigbinde became the first indigenous coach to lead Nigeria’s senior national team to a medal at the Africa Cup of Nations, winning silver in Cote d’Ivoire in 1984 with a team largely made up of young players.
He later led the Super Eagles to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan, where Nigeria lost narrowly to Argentina and Sweden and drew with England.
After his coaching career, Onigbinde served as an instructor for the Nigerian Football Federation, CAF and FIFA, contributing to the training of coaches and football administrators across Africa.