Osogbo, Match 10, 2026 (NAN) The Osun Football Association (FA) and football coaches have described the death of former Super Eagles coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, as a huge loss to Nigerian football.
The Chairman of the association, Sola Fanawopo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Osogbo that Onigbinde was a pioneer of indigenous coaching in Nigeria and would be difficult to replace.
NAN reports that the death of Onigbinde was announced by his family on Monday.
He died at the age of 88 in his hometown of Modakeke, Osun.
Fanawopo said the late Onigbinde was a fearless coach who introduced young players to the global stage while in charge of the national team.
“He built a reputation to a level where his expertise was always sought after, even at the FIFA level.
“He dared to be different. When he was in charge of the national team in 1984, he made the late Stephen Keshi, then a young player, the captain of the team.
“Similarly, he discovered and introduced a young goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, during the 2002 World Cup.
“He took daring decisions that many coaches would never have made. He will be greatly missed,” he said.
Fanawopo added that the entire Osun FA, the state government and football stakeholders, especially coaches, condole with the family.
He urged the Osun and Oyo state governments, where Onigbinde coached Shooting Stars Sports Club, to honor his legacy, while calling on local coaches to emulate his example.
Similarly, the Osun State Chairman of the Nigerian Football Coaches Association, Tayo Adesina, said the news of Onigbinde’s death came as a shock to him and members of the association.
Adesina said the late Onigbinde trained and certified him as a coach at the National Institute for Sports in Lagos.
He recalled that during the practical session, he had an argument with Onigbinde while being drilled.
According to him, the incident prompted Onigbinde to enquire about his identity, after which he discovered that Adesina was the younger brother of Demola Adesina, a former Green Eagles player.
Adesina said the discovery led Onigbinde to clear all the other 100 trainee coaches.
He added that since then, he had formed a bond with Onigbinde and that the vacuum created by his death would be difficult to fill.
Adesina said the coaches association and other stakeholders were making arrangements to pay a condolence visit to the family.(NAN)
