A former Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Chief Festus Onigbinde, has died at the age of 88.
A member of the family, Bolade Adesuyi, announced his passing on Monday via a message.
The message read: “With great gratitude to God for a life well spent, we announce the passing of this great man, a Modakeke High Chief, the first indigenous Nigerian Super Eagles football coach, father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend, High Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde.
“We thank God for the fulfilled life and your contributions to the Nigerian nation and the world as an unequalled football coach.”
The statement added that final funeral arrangements would be communicated later.
Onigbinde led the country to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan/Korea.
He returned to the dugout in 2002, after a first stint as coach of the Green Eagles between 1982 and 1984, replacing the now deceased Shuaibu Amodu.
In 1984, Onigbinde led Nigeria to the final of the 1984 African Nations Cup, where they lost 3–1 to Cameroon.
He later served as a technical instructor for both the Confederation of African Football and FIFA.