The veteran tactician who enjoyed two stints in charge of the Super Eagles, passed away on Monday morning, just four days after his birthday.
In a statement made available to Flashscore.com, Mrs. Bolade Adesuyi confirmed the legend’s death, revealing he had been battling illness.
"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," it read.
"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."
Onigbinde was appointed head coach of the Super Eagles in 1981 following the departure of Brazil’s Otto Gloria.
He became the fourth indigenous tactician to manage the Nigerian national team, after Adewale Adegoke, Daniel Anyiam and Peter Amaechina.
At the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, he guided the West Africans to a second-place finish after a 3–1 defeat to Cameroon in the final at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan.
Later that year, he took over as head coach of Nigeria’s top-flight side Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), leading them to the final of the Africa Club Champions Cup. However, they narrowly lost the title to Egypt’s Zamalek in a thrilling final.
Onigbinde returned as head coach of the Super Eagles in 2002 following the dismissal of the coaching crew led by Amodu Shuaibu after Nigeria’s disappointing outing at the Africa Cup of Nations in Mali.
He subsequently guided the team to the FIFA World Cup, where the country exited the tournament without a win in a group that included Argentina, England and Sweden.
Before his passing, he served as a technical instructor for both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football, mentoring and developing coaches across Africa.
The NFF has also mourned the passing of the Modakeke high chief.
"The Modakeke high chief was an extraordinary achiever who impacted positively not only on Nigeria football, but on the African and the global game at large," said the federation’s general secretary, Mohammed Sanusi.
"Indeed, a big tree has fallen. Chief Onigbinde ate, drank, breathed, slept and lived football development. We will miss him greatly, as he was never tired of giving advice on the game’s development even at his ripe old age. We pray that God will grant him eternal rest, and also grant his family, relations, friends and the Nigeria football fraternity the fortitude to bear the big loss."
