Former Super Eagles Coach Adegboye Onigbinde Laid to Rest in Modakeke

Former Super Eagles coach and ex-Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Director Adegboye Onigbinde has been laid to rest, with many paying tribute.

The 88-year-old was buried on Friday in Modakeke, Osun State. Key figures from Nigerian football, government, and traditional institutions came to honor one of Nigeria's top coaches.

The funeral service took place at Saint Stephen’s Cathedral in Modakeke. It attracted former international players, football administrators, traditional rulers, political leaders, and local community members.

Mr Onigbinde, who passed away in March, is one of the most significant figures in Nigerian coaching history. In 1984, he became the first indigenous coach to lead Nigeria to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, where the Green Eagles finished second to Cameroon in Côte d’Ivoire.

Eighteen years later, he was the first Nigerian coach to lead the Super Eagles at the FIFA World Cup. He took charge of the national team during the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan.

He also worked as Technical Director for the Nigeria Football Federation and later served as a FIFA technical instructor. He had coaching and technical roles in several countries, including a time as technical adviser to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association.

Augustine Eguavoen, former Super Eagles captain and current NFF Technical Director, represented the federation at the burial. He stated that Mr Onigbinde made a lasting impact on Nigerian football.

“The NFF recognizes and appreciates the service of late Chief Onigbinde to our country. He was very energetic and rose to the top through hard work, dedication, and discipline. He was a towering figure in coaching worldwide.

“He was the first Nigerian to lead our Eagles to win silver medals at the Africa Cup of Nations and also became the first Nigerian to lead them at the FIFA World Cup. Even after retirement, he continued to impact greatly by serving as a resource person during NFF coaching programs. His legacy is strong and impressive. The nation will miss him, but we pray for the repose of his soul and for God to comfort his family and the Nigeria Football family as a whole.”

The late coach was also closely linked with Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan, where he had some of his best years in club football. Throughout his career, he pushed for coaching education and better chances for local coaches.

At the ceremony on Friday, attendees included former NFF General Secretary Fanny Amun, NFF Director of Communications Ademola Olajire, former Super Eagles midfielder Mutiu Adepoju, Osun State Government representatives, traditional rulers, former international players, and former Shooting Stars players.

Former Nigeria winger Felix Owolabi, a member of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, also attended the burial.

The NFF provided financial help to the family as part of the funeral arrangements.

Although Nigeria was eliminated in the group stage of the 2002 FIFA World Cup after matches against Argentina, Sweden, and England, Mr Onigbinde’s appointment is a landmark in Nigerian football history. It showed that an indigenous coach could lead the national team at the world’s biggest football tournament.

After retiring from coaching, he stayed active in football development. He regularly joined coaching programs and technical talks organized by the NFF.

His burial in Modakeke brought together many generations of Nigerian football figures. This highlights the influence of a coach whose career included club football, the national team, and international technical development.