The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed profound “shock and sadness” following the passing of former Technical Director and two-time Super Eagles head coach, Festus Adegboye Onigbinde.
In an official statement released on Tuesday, NFF General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi described the Modakeke High Chief as an “extraordinary achiever” whose impact transcended Nigerian borders to reach the global stage.
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In a statement issued on Tuesday by the federation’s General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, the Modakeke high chief was described as “an extraordinary achiever who impacted positively not only Nigerian football, but the African and global game at large.”
“Indeed, a big tree has fallen. Chief Onigbinde ate, drank, breathed, slept and lived football development,” Sanusi said.
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“We will miss him greatly, as he was never tired of advising on the game’s development, even at his ripe old age. We pray that God will grant him eternal rest, and also grant his family, relations, friends and the Nigerian football fraternity the fortitude to bear the big loss.”
Respected globally for his deep knowledge of football tactics and techniques, Onigbinde served as Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation and also as Technical Adviser to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association, where he worked with the country’s youth teams.
He also spent many years as a technical adviser to the Confederation of African Football and served on several Technical Study Groups organised by FIFA and CAF at major international tournaments.
