Veteran Nigerian football coach and former Super Eagles interim manager, Monday Sinclair, has died at the age of 88.
His death was confirmed by former Nigeria international goalkeeper Peterside Idah, who posted a heartfelt tribute on Facebook.
According to reports, Sinclair passed away on Wednesday at about 3:15 p.m.
“Our daddy is gone. What a man. He signed me to play for Sharks. Gave me my first match against Niger Tornadoes of Minna,” Idah wrote.
“The first day he saw me come to train with Sharks, he said, ‘My friend, are you a boxer?’ He said I was built like Tyson. From that day I found me a football father, I became very close to him and his family, with Puppa K as a very close brother.”
In 1997, Sinclair briefly managed the Nigerian national team on an interim basis following the dismissal of French coach Philippe Troussier. He led the Super Eagles in several international friendlies, including back-to-back fixtures against Zambia and a match against Tunisia in the LG Cup final. The team lost the first game to Zambia 2-0 and earned a draw in the second encounter in December 1997. Earlier that year in August, they were beaten 2-0 by Tunisia in the LG Cup final.
Sinclair began his coaching career with Sharks FC of Port Harcourt and went on to manage various clubs such as Niger Tornadoes, Enugu Rangers, Heartland, Bayelsa United, and the national team of Equatorial Guinea.
Before his coaching tenure, Sinclair played for Nigeria and made his national team debut on February 27, 1963, in a Kwame Nkrumah Cup match against Senegal in Accra, which ended in a 4–0 defeat.
He was known for his keen eye for talent and is credited with discovering and mentoring some of Nigeria’s football greats, including Richard Owubokiri, Benjy Nziakor, the late Peter Rufai, Finidi George, Taribo West, Davidson Owumi, Peterside Idah, Binebi Numa, and Imama Amapakabo.
Sinclair’s contributions to Nigerian football spanned decades, leaving a lasting legacy among players, colleagues, and fans alike.
