Bukola Olopade, the director-general of the Nigeria Sports Commission (NSC), said the contributions and legacy of the late former Super Eagles coach, Festus Onigbinde, have helped shape the country’s football.

In a post on X, Mr Olopade, who joined Nigeria’s football community in mourning the coach’s passing, added that his contributions cannot be overstated.

“A true Iroko has surely gone home. High Chief Adegboyega Onigbinde has been nothing short of a football legend and an enigma whose impact resonates across the global football ecosystem.

“His patriotism and constructive contributions to the development of Nigerian football over five decades cannot be overemphasised.

“His legacies as a former national team coach and former CAF and FIFA technical instructor will continue to shape the sport in decades to come. A true legend has truly gone home. Rest on, High Chief,” Mr Olopade wrote on X.

The late coach managed the country’s national team at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

In 1984, he led Nigeria to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, where they lost 1-3 to Cameroon.

He died on Monday evening.

(NAN)