Who is Adegboye Onigbinde? Life and Legacy of the Ex Super Eagles Coach

Adegboye Onigbinde (March 5, 1938 – March 9, 2026) was a Nigerian football manager.

Adegboye Onigbinde Career

Festus Adegboye Onigbinde was born in Modakeke. He coached the Nigeria national team at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, which he had previously accomplished between 1982 and 1984. Onigbinde led Nigeria to the final of the 1984 African Nations Cup.

Nigeria fell 1-3 to Cameroon in that encounter. Later, in 1984, he took over as coach of Ibadan’s Shooting Stars Sports Club, leading them to the Africa Club Champions Cup final. They fell to Egypt’s Zamalek in the finals.

Onigbinde took over the Nigerian national team after Shuaibu Amodu’s coaching staff was dismissed following the Super Eagles’ terrible performance at the 2002 Africa Nations Cup. Onigbinde led a team comprised primarily of young and inexperienced players.

However, the Japan/South Korea edition was Nigeria’s poorest showing in World Cup history: for the first time in this competition, Nigeria did not win a single match and was eliminated in the first round.

In the opening game, they fell 0-1 to Argentina, thanks to Gabriel Batistuta’s goal. Nigeria was eliminated from the World Cup after losing 1-2 against Sweden in the second match, despite leading 1-0.

The third game was a goalless draw for England. Following the World Cup, numerous Nigerian players, including Jay-Jay Okocha and Julius Aghahowa, criticised Onigbinde for nominating the incorrect players.

However, some of the players stayed with the Super Eagles for many years. Onigbinde remains a highly regarded Nigerian football tactician. He has worked as a CAF and FIFA technical instructor.

Adegboye Death

Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde died at the age of 88 on March 9, 2026. Mrs. Bolade Adesuyi issued a statement acknowledging the death of the football icon and community leader.