By Pius Ayinor
A former Super Eagles coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, is dead. Coach Onigbinde, who led Nigeria to the 1984 African Nations Cup and the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan, died at the age of 88.
The coach’s family announced his passing on Monday through a WhatsApp message signed by a member of his family, Bolade Adesuyi.
The message reads, “With great gratitude to God for a life well spent, we announce the passing of this great man, a Modakeke High Chief, the first indigenous Nigerian Super Eagles football coach, father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend, High Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde.
“We thank God for the fulfilled life and your contributions to the Nigerian nation and the world as an unequalled football coach.
“We pray that your soul will rest perfectly in the bosom of your and our Lord Jesus Christ. Good night, till we meet to part no more.”
He became the Green Eagles (as they were known) coach between 1982 and 1984, losing the final game of the 1984 AFCON 3-1 to Cameroon in Abidjan. Onigbinde returned to the Eagles after Nigeria qualified for the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup, replacing the late Shaibu Amodu.
After the Super Eagles job, Onigbinde served as an instructor with the Nigerian Football Federation, the Confederation of African Football and FIFA.
The family announcement stated that final funeral arrangements would be communicated later.
Photo: Coach Festus Onigbinde
Extrasportnigeria 
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