By Our Reporter
The son of former Super Eagles coach, Festus Adegboye Onigbinde, has said his father fought hard to stay alive before his death.
Oyekunle Onigbinde, the last child of the late coach, made the remark on Tuesday during an interview in Ibadan.
According to him, although his father had been ill, he battled strongly but could not recover due to old age.
“He fought well to stay alive. He was sick, but because of his age, his body could not overcome the illness,” he said.
He described the former national team coach as a generous and accommodating man who brought people together regardless of their background.
“My father welcomed everyone and wanted people to live in unity. He was someone who connected many people,” he added.
Sports analyst Tayo Balogun also paid tribute, recalling a 40-minute phone conversation he had with Onigbinde in 2025.
Balogun said the late coach made lasting contributions to Nigerian football, including his work with Shooting Stars Sports Club and the national team.
He praised Onigbinde’s bravery in selecting players for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and described him as a hardworking and thorough coach whose legacy would remain in Nigerian football history.