Tributes Pour In for First Indigenous Super Eagles Coach

Festus Adegboye Onigbinde, who served as the first indigenous coach of Nigeria's Super Eagles, passed away on a Monday at the age of 88. The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), through its president Mr.

Isaiah Benjamin and secretary general Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo, issued a statement mourning his death.

They described Onigbinde as a colossal figure in Nigerian football, recalling his immense contributions to the development of the sport in Nigeria and Africa. His legacy is expected to continue influencing the sport.

Onigbinde was notably the first Nigerian coach to lead the Super Eagles to the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and had previously coached Nigeria to a silver medal at the 1984 African Cup of Nations, where they lost to Cameroon in the final. He held various managerial positions throughout his career, including serving as a special advisor to the Osun State government on football.