The Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, said the contributions of the late former Super Eagles coach, Festus Onigbinde, have helped shape the Nigerian football.
In a post on X, Olopade, who joined Nigeria’s football community in mourning the coach’s passing, added that his contributions cannot be overstated.
“A true Iroko has surely gone home,” Olopade said. “High Chief Adegboyega Onigbinde has been nothing short of a football legend and an enigma whose impact resonates across the global football ecosystem.”
“His patriotism and constructive contributions to the development of Nigerian football over five decades cannot be overemphasised.”
“His legacies as a former national team coach, former CAF and FIFA Technical Instructor will continue to shape the sport in decades to come. A true legend has truly gone home. Rest on, High Chief,” he said.
The late coach managed the country’s national team at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
In 1984, he took Nigeria to the final match of the Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria lost 1-3 to Cameroon.