Veteran Nigerian football coach Festus Adegboye Onigbinde dies
Former Nigeria national team coach Festus Adegboye Onigbinde has died at age 76. The family confirmed his passing on Monday, describing him as a revered patriarch and respected figure in Nigerian football. Onigbinde became one of Nigeria's earliest indigenous Super Eagles coaches in 1982, leading the team to the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations final where they lost to Cameroon. He later coached Nigeria at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan. Beyond coaching, he earned a German Grade A coaching licence in 1976 and attended a Brazilian coaching course in 1981, expanding technical knowledge rare for African coaches at the time. He also achieved success with Shooting Stars Sports Club, reaching the 1984 CAF Champions League final. Onigbinde served in technical roles within the Nigeria Football Federation, shaping coaching education and youth development policies. His funeral arrangements are pending announcement.