By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, has expressed sadness over the demise of its former coach, Mr Festus Adegboye Onigbinde, on Monday at the age of 88.

In a short message on X, the Super Eagles noted that “We commiserate with the family of our former coach, Festus Adegboyega Onigbinde, following his passing. A respected leader and a true servant of Nigerian football. Rest in peace, Coach.”

The family of the veteran football tactician confirmed his passing on Monday, describing him as a revered patriarch and respected figure in Nigerian football.

In a statement issued on behalf of the family, Mr Bolade Adesuyi announced the death of the coach, who is also a Modakeke High Chief.

“We announce the passing of this great man, a Modakeke High Chief, the 1st indigenous Nigerian Super Eagles football coach, father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend, High Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde, who passed unto the great beyond a couple of minutes ago.”

The statement did not immediately disclose the cause of death.

Mr Onigbinde was widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most influential football tacticians, with a career spanning several decades in coaching and administration.

He became one of the earliest Nigerian coaches to obtain elite coaching qualifications, earning a German Grade A coaching licence in 1976. He further expanded his technical knowledge by attending a coaching course in Brazil in 1981, at a time when few African coaches had such exposure.

In 1982, he was appointed head coach of the Super Eagles, becoming one of the earliest indigenous coaches to lead Nigeria’s senior national team.

His tenure saw Nigeria reach the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast. The team finished as runners-up after losing to Cameroon, but he was relieved of his duties shortly after the tournament despite the strong performance.

Beyond the national team, Onigbinde achieved notable success at the club level, particularly with Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan. In 1984, he led the Nigerian side to the final of the African Cup of Champions Clubs, now known as the CAF Champions League, where they narrowly lost to Egyptian club Zamalek.

Nearly two decades later, he returned to the national team during a turbulent period and was appointed coach ahead of the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan. Although Nigeria did not advance beyond the group stage, the tournament marked his appearance as a World Cup coach.

Mr Onigbinde also played important roles in football administration and technical development. He served in technical capacities within the Nigeria Football Federation, including as Technical Director, where he helped shape coaching education and youth development policies.

In later years, he remained an influential voice in Nigerian football, frequently commenting on coaching standards, grassroots development and the administration of the sport.

He is survived by his children, grandchildren and extended family. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family.

Since 2016, Seven-Up Bottling Company’s Aquafina Premium drinking water has shown up at the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon every single year. As the partnership enters its 11th edition, athletes, organisers, and fitness advocates reflect on what a decade of sustained support really means.

At 6:30 am on February 14, elite athletes, thousands of runners, including first-timers, formed thick streams at the starting line of the 11th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. They could be seen adjusting race bibs, stretching calves and taking photographs. Friends who had trained together for months since the announcement of the race were ready to run.

Interspersed among the title sponsor’s branding were the unmistakable blue and white colours of Aquafina. The brand was everywhere: at the start and finish lines, at hydration points every 2.5 kilometres, on volunteer vests, and in the hands of race marshals pressing chilled bottles into the palms of passing runners.

When the marathon first launched in 2016, organising a full 42-kilometre international race in Lagos was a major undertaking. As participation grew, including runners from across Africa, the need for reliable hydration planning became even more important. Aquafina’s continued involvement has aligned with that growth, helping organisers maintain a consistent hydration structure as the event expanded.

For the 2026 edition, Aquafina built its engagement around the 10KM race with the theme “Run am with your Padi,” a Nigerian Pidgin phrase that speaks to companionship. The message reflected how many participants approach the 10-kilometre category, running with friends, training partners, or social groups rather than competing professionally. The campaign appeared across outdoor and digital channels, reinforcing the social side of the race.

From a runner’s perspective, hydration was where Aquafina’s dominance on the course was most obvious. Harriet Wonder, a participant in the 2026 marathon, described her experience simply: “There was more than enough water and drink for everyone. At intervals, there was always water, like if you wanted to drink 100 bottles of water, you’ll get it. Hydration was not a problem.” Her comment captures how Aquafina’s strong presence at the event translated into a race experience where runners rarely had to think about water availability.

Aquafina’s 2026 activation also introduced one of the event’s biggest talking points, a N1million reward for the first 10 padi groups to cross the finish line in the 10-kilometre fun run. Rather than focusing only on elite competitors, the incentive placed attention on everyday runners, who make up the largest share of participants.

That decision also added excitement to the community category. For many runners, the fun run is about personal fitness goals or showing up with friends. Adding a significant reward recognised their contribution to the marathon’s energy and scale.

More than just a prize, the move reflected Aquafina’s awareness of the growing fitness culture around the event. It placed value on grassroots participation, the runners who return each year and help shape the marathon atmosphere.

In sports sponsorship, longevity builds familiarity. After eleven consecutive years, Aquafina’s presence has become an expected part of the marathon experience for returning runners. Hydration stations are not just branded touchpoints; they are functional stops runners plan around as they move through the course.

Nigeria’s recreational running culture has expanded steadily since the marathon began, with more clubs and informal groups encouraging participation. Large events like the marathon reflect that growth, and consistent corporate support helps sustain the infrastructure required to host thousands of runners.

More than a decade into the partnership, Aquafina’s role is defined by consistency. By providing reliable hydration year after year, the brand has entrenched itself as the ‘Padi of Life’, becoming a race day essential for runners navigating one of Lagos’ largest sporting events.

Smartphones have made online gambling so convenient, making them the best choice for bettors in Somalia. In this article, you will discover more reasons to favor mobile casino gaming and the benefits of using the Linebet mobile app.

The popularity of online casinos among beginners

Casino games have started to surge in popularity among bettors in Somalia, and leading this rise are slots and crash games. These titles are in demand among beginners due to their simple gameplay and the absence of complex rules.

Apart from the simplicity of these titles, the introduction of mobile gaming has also made casino games more accessible. With a smartphone, bettors can play their favorite games between breaks at work, whenever they have a bit of free time, or even on the bus. With these advantages, many newbies can have fun whenever they wish without having to memorize any complex rules.

What makes mobile casino games so popular

The popularity of casino gaming in Somalia can also be attributed to the types of games on mobile gambling apps, one of which is crash games. Crash games are a category of games where an object rises along a graph and with each increase, a multiplier that acts on a player’s bet also rises. The main goal is to collect your winnings before the object stops moving. Of course, you could collect your winnings early and miss out on higher winnings, or get greedy and lose everything when the object stops moving.

This simple mechanism is seen in many popular crash games, like Aviator, and many bettors appreciate the simplicity and fast pace of each round. This simplicity and rapid-fire round is also present in slot games, making it another popular option for gamers. Mobile casino games are also designed to accommodate players who want to place minimum bets when gaming. The live casino section is another feature that many mobile bettors look forward to, as it allows them to experience the atmosphere of real-life gambling.

Linebet mobile platform

Bettors in Somalia who desire easy access to the Linebet online casino can get this with the Linebet mobile application. This mobile app can be downloaded for free and it opens up to a beginner-friendly interface with a simple navigation system. The mobile package works well in areas with weak internet connectivity and loads games without delay.