By Victor Kanayo
Former Nigerian international and coach, Monday Sinclair, has reportedly passed on.
This was disclosed by former Super Eagles goalkeeper and team media officer, Idah Peterside, via his Facebook page on Wednesday night.
Peterside recalled that Sinclair was the man who gave him his first professional opportunity at the now-defunct Sharks FC of Port Harcourt.
He said the window paved the way for his rise to national prominence.
His family is yet to announce Sinclair’s demise.
A Football Figure
Sinclair was a well-regarded figure in Nigerian football, known for both his achievements as a player in the 1960s and his later work as a coach and grassroots talent developer.
Born before Nigeria’s independence, Sinclair made his debut for the national team on February 27, 1963, during a Kwame Nkrumah Cup match in Accra, where the Green Eagles (as the team was then called) were defeated 4–0 by Senegal.
Despite the tough debut, Sinclair became a key figure in the early stages of Nigeria’s football development on the international stage.
He returned to national duties decades later in 1997 when he was named interim coach of the Super Eagles after the exit of French manager Philippe Troussier.
Although his time in charge was brief and largely under the radar, he led the team in friendly matches in Tunisia and Zambia. During this period, striker Kenneth Zeigbo stood out with strong performances under Sinclair’s leadership.
Outside of his national team role, Sinclair was highly respected as a grassroots coach and tireless talent scout.
He championed an attacking, development-focused style of play, which helped produce numerous players who went on to succeed both at home and abroad.
Notably, Sinclair was instrumental to discovering Peter Rufai, and other big Nigerian stars in the past.
Month Of Football Greats’ Exit
His death adds to a series of losses in July 2025, a month that has been particularly painful for Nigeria’s football community.
Veteran Nigerian goalkeeper Peter Rufai had departed this side of life earlier in July.
