Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, has mourned the death of former coach Festus Onigbinde, who led the team to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
Onigbinde, who turned 88 on March 5, died on Monday, with his family confirming the news in a message signed by Bolade Adesuyi. The family described him as a respected football figure and community leader.
In a statement shared on X, the Super Eagles paid tribute to the late coach, describing him as a dedicated servant of Nigerian football.
Onigbinde first managed the national team, then known as the Green Eagles, between 1982 and 1984, guiding Nigeria to the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations, where the team lost 3–1 to Cameroon national football team.
He returned in 2002, replacing former coach Shuaibu Amodu, and led Nigeria to the World Cup, where the team exited at the group stage after matches against Argentina national football team, Sweden national football team and England national football team.
After retiring from coaching, Onigbinde remained active in football development and served as a technical instructor for the Confederation of African Football and FIFA.
