Ooni Pays Tribute & Hails Onigbinde As Pride Of Yorubaland

The Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC), Arole Oodua Olofin Adimula and the Natural Head of the Oduduwa race worldwide, the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has paid glowing tribute to the late football icon and former national team coach, Festus Adegboye Onigbinde, describing his death as a painful loss to the Yoruba race and the entire Nigerian sporting community.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, the Ooni who is also the Permanent Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) expressed deep sorrow over the demise of the veteran football tactician, noting that his contributions to Nigerian football and youth development would remain indelible.

The revered monarch described the late coach as a trailblazer who brought honour and pride not only to Modakeke and Ile-Ife but also to the entire nation through his decades of dedication to football development.

The Ooni particularly recalled that Onigbinde made history as one of the earliest indigenous Nigerians to coach the national team and later led the Super Eagles to the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

According to the statement, the Ooni noted that the late tactician’s achievements went far beyond the sidelines, as he was widely respected for his intellectual depth, discipline and commitment to building the technical foundation of football in Nigeria.

The statement added, “Onigbinde’s coaching career spanned several decades, during which he distinguished himself as one of the most influential football minds in the country. In 1976, he earned a prestigious German Grade A coaching licence, becoming one of the earliest Nigerian coaches to obtain elite international coaching qualifications. He further strengthened his expertise by attending a coaching course in Brazil in 1981 at a time when very few African coaches had such opportunities.

“His early impact on the national team became evident when he was appointed head coach of the Super Eagles in 1982. Under his leadership, Nigeria reached the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations, finishing as runners-up after losing to Cameroon.

“Beyond the national team, Onigbinde also enjoyed remarkable success at club level, particularly with the Shooting Stars Sports Club, which he led to the final of the African Cup of Champions Clubs in 1984 now known as the CAF Champions League where they narrowly lost to Egyptian giants Zamalek SC.”

The Ooni also acknowledged the late coach’s role in football administration, noting that he served the nation in various technical capacities within the Nigeria Football Federation, including as Technical Director where he contributed significantly to coaching education and youth development policies.

The Ooni further described the late Onigbinde as a disciplined sports administrator, respected mentor and elder statesman in Nigerian football who consistently advocated for grassroots development and professional standards in the sport.

“High Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde lived a fulfilled life marked by service, excellence and patriotism. His legacy in Nigerian football and his numerous efforts towards the peace of Ifeland will remain a source of inspiration for generations to come,” the statement read.

The Ooni extended his condolences to the immediate family of the late coach, the people of Modakeke, the football community and the entire nation, praying that God grants his soul eternal rest and gives his loved ones the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.