Nigeria: death of Adegboye Onigbinde, former Super Eagles coach
Former head coach of the Super Eagles and a major figure in African football, Adegboye Onigbinde died at 88, leaving behind the legacy of a coach who shaped several generations of coaches in Nigeria.
Nigerian football is in mourning. Adegboye Onigbinde, former emblematic head coach of the Super Eagles, has died on Monday at the age of 88. His family announced the news in a message circulated on WhatsApp, honoring the memory of a man whose life was devoted entirely to developing Nigerian football.
Born on March 5, 1938, Onigbinde will be remembered in history as one of the pioneers of modern coaching in Nigeria. He was notably the first indigenous Nigerian to take the reins of the national team. Under his leadership, Nigeria reached the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations, finishing with a silver medal after losing to the Cameroon national football team.
The coach also returned to lead the national team in 2002, guiding the squad to the 2002 FIFA World Cup held in Japan and South Korea. The tournament, however, ended with a first-round exit after difficult results against Argentina, Sweden, and England.
Despite the criticisms raised at the time, Onigbinde remained a respected figure in African football. Subsequently, he continued his involvement as a technical instructor for the Confederation of African Football and FIFA, helping train many coaches across the continent. His name will be associated with the rise of Nigerian football.
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