By Akinwale Kasali
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, and the entire nation have once again been thrown into mourning following the death of former Super Eagles Coach, Monday Sinclair.
The late Sinclair died at the age of 88 years.
He was a former Interim Super Eagles Coach.
Confirming his death on Wednesday, ex-Nigerian international and former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peterside Idah, who played under Sinclair at Sharks Football Club, Port Harcourt, and regarded him as a mentor.
In a tribute shared on Facebook, Idah wrote, “Our daddy is gone. What a man. He signed me to play for Sharks and gave me my first match against the Niger Tornadoes of Minna.
“The first day he saw me come to train, he said, ‘My friend, are you a boxer?’ He said I was built like Tyson. From that day, I found me a football father.”
Coach Sinclair was widely respected for his football acumen, tactical intelligence, and commitment to grassroots development.
His playing days spanned the 1960s, but his coaching legacy extended far beyond.
He coached several top-tier Nigerian clubs, including Sharks FC, Rangers International, Heartland, Bayelsa United, Udoji United, and Niger Tornadoes, among others.
He also managed the Nzalang Nacional, the national team of Equatorial Guinea.
In 1997, Sinclair was briefly appointed interim coach of the Super Eagles, taking charge of friendlies in Tunisia and Zambia following the exit of Frenchman, Philippe Troussier.
Beyond the sidelines, Sinclair was one of the few Nigerian coaches to document his experiences in books, using his stories to inspire younger coaches and players.
Sinclair’s death comes amid a worrying pattern of losses within the Nigerian sports community.
In recent months, notable ex-athletes and coaches—including Peter Rufai, Christian Chukwu, and others—have passed away or fallen seriously ill, prompting urgent conversations around the welfare of retired sports professionals.
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