It’s been about 30 years since former Nigeria International, Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji, died right on the field of play while representing his country in a football match. Ripples Nigeria’s Ben Ugbana curates the following facts about the man whose death came as a shock to the football world.

1. Okwaraji was an Imo indegene

Sam, who would later become a fine midfielder in the round leather game, was born on 19th of May, 1964 in Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria.

2. He died at 25 of heart failure

Okwaraji died during a World Cup qualifying match against Angola at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos on 12th of August, 1989. He collapsed and died of congestive heart failure in the 77th minute of the encounter. Nigeria won the game 1-0, but still failed to qualify for the 1990 World Cup.

3. Scorer of one of the fastest goals in AFCON

Okwaraji was a member of the Green Eagles squad that represented Nigeria at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, where he scored one of the fastest goals in the history of the tournament against Cameroon. It was his only international goal for Nigeria.

4. Okwaraji spent his entire football career in EuLawyer
Sam played for Italian side, AS Roma between 1984 and 1985 as a youth player. He went on to play for NK Dinamo Zagreb between 1985 and 1986, for Austria Klagenfurt between 1986 and 1987, for VfB Stuttgart between 1987 and 1989 and for SSV Ulm 1846 on loan between 1987-1988.

5. Okwaraji was also a trained Lawyer

Other than his football career, the Imo-born star bagged a Masters degree in Law from the University of Rome. He was playing professional football while finishing his education in law.
Here is a clip of Okwaraji’s goal against the Indomitable Lions in Morocco:

Source:
https://www.ripplesnigeria.com/in-remembrance-of-sam-okwaraji-5-facts-about-nigerias-football-martyr/

Continue to RIP lengend.

cc:lalasticlala

izzou:

Nigeria was playing India and the rule of that particular game was if Nigeria could score just 1, Nigeria wins(whoever created such useless rule)

India was leading Nigeria with 99 goals. When they(the Indians) want to score, the ball turns to a lion and our goal keeper runs for his life. Then they score with ease

But Okwaraji(of Blessed memory) summoned courage. Took the ball, was about to take a shot. Ball turned into a big stone. He didn't mind. Kicked the stone with his last breath. Ball(Stone) entered the net, Nigeria wins, Okwaraji dies.

This is the version I heard as a kid


Continue to rest on Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji








And Ohhh, India got banned from playing football after the match(I forgot this part)

blessings to whoever started this story, he/she made my childhood complete!!! Wow!

Continue to R.I.P

RESPECT

izzou:

Nigeria was playing India and the rule of that particular game was if Nigeria could score just 1, Nigeria wins(whoever created such useless rule)

India was leading Nigeria with 99 goals. When they(the Indians) want to score, the ball turns to a lion and our goal keeper runs for his life. Then they score with ease

But Okwaraji(of Blessed memory) summoned courage. Took the ball, was about to take a shot. Ball turned into a big stone. He didn't mind. Kicked the stone with his last breath. Ball(Stone) entered the net, Nigeria wins, Okwaraji dies.

This is the version I heard as a kid


Continue to rest on Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji








And Ohhh, India got banned from playing football after the match(I forgot this part)

The version I heard na Tunder balo... Whoever that was...

And we were told another story

you mean he didnt kick a ball that turned to a lion's head?

izzou:

Nigeria was playing India and the rule of that particular game was if Nigeria could score just 1, Nigeria wins(whoever created such useless rule)

India was leading Nigeria with 99 goals. When they(the Indians) want to score, the ball turns to a lion and our goal keeper runs for his life. Then they score with ease

But Okwaraji(of Blessed memory) summoned courage. Took the ball, was about to take a shot. Ball turned into a big stone. He didn't mind. Kicked the stone with his last breath. Ball(Stone) entered the net, Nigeria wins, Okwaraji dies.

This is the version I heard as a kid


Continue to rest on Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji








And Ohhh, India got banned from playing football after the match(I forgot this part)

I swear down,naso them tell me sef

I'm expecting to see the yekini Olympic scorer guy here soon

izzou:

Nigeria was playing India and the rule of that particular game was if Nigeria could score just 1, Nigeria wins(whoever created such useless rule)

India was leading Nigeria with 99 goals. When they(the Indians) want to score, the ball turns to a lion and our goal keeper runs for his life. Then they score with ease

But Okwaraji(of Blessed memory) summoned courage. Took the ball, was about to take a shot. Ball turned into a big stone. He didn't mind. Kicked the stone with his last breath. Ball(Stone) entered the net, Nigeria wins, Okwaraji dies.

This is the version I heard as a kid


Continue to rest on Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji








And Ohhh, India got banned from playing football after the match(I forgot this part)

the version i heard was the heading he gave the ball was what made him to start living dreadlocks due to the injury he sustained.

The man that kick ball and turn to snake, fire and Lion respectively against India... rip legend

A great Legend Nigeria has ever produced. Continue to rip dear!

izzou:

Nigeria was playing India and the rule of that particular game was if Nigeria could score just 1, Nigeria wins(whoever created such useless rule)

India was leading Nigeria with 99 goals. When they(the Indians) want to score, the ball turns to a lion and our goal keeper runs for his life. Then they score with ease

But Okwaraji(of Blessed memory) summoned courage. Took the ball, was about to take a shot. Ball turned into a big stone. He didn't mind. Kicked the stone with his last breath. Ball(Stone) entered the net, Nigeria wins, Okwaraji dies.

This is the version I heard as a kid


Continue to rest on Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji

lol so I heard too







And Ohhh, India got banned from playing football after the match(I forgot this part)

So I heard though I didn't know the name����

izzou:

Nigeria was playing India and the rule of that particular game was if Nigeria could score just 1, Nigeria wins(whoever created such useless rule)

India was leading Nigeria with 99 goals. When they(the Indians) want to score, the ball turns to a lion and our goal keeper runs for his life. Then they score with ease

But Okwaraji(of Blessed memory) summoned courage. Took the ball, was about to take a shot. Ball turned into a big stone. He didn't mind. Kicked the stone with his last breath. Ball(Stone) entered the net, Nigeria wins, Okwaraji dies.

This is the version I heard as a kid


Continue to rest on Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji








And Ohhh, India got banned from playing football after the match(I forgot this part)

That's what I heard too
But we were told he loosed his boot, on taking the shot, his boot went together with the ball.

The goal keeper caught his boot while the ball enters the post .

That's what I heard oh

izzou:

Nigeria was playing India and the rule of that particular game was if Nigeria could score just 1, Nigeria wins(whoever created such useless rule)

India was leading Nigeria with 99 goals. When they(the Indians) want to score, the ball turns to a lion and our goal keeper runs for his life. Then they score with ease

But Okwaraji(of Blessed memory) summoned courage. Took the ball, was about to take a shot. Ball turned into a big stone. He didn't mind. Kicked the stone with his last breath. Ball(Stone) entered the net, Nigeria wins, Okwaraji dies.

This is the version I heard as a kid


Continue to rest on Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji





And Ohhh, India got banned from playing football after the match(I forgot this part)

I still believe in that lie bro even till now

izzou:

Nigeria was playing India and the rule of that particular game was if Nigeria could score just 1, Nigeria wins(whoever created such useless rule)

India was leading Nigeria with 99 goals. When they(the Indians) want to score, the ball turns to a lion and our goal keeper runs for his life. Then they score with ease

But Okwaraji(of Blessed memory) summoned courage. Took the ball, was about to take a shot. Ball turned into a big stone. He didn't mind. Kicked the stone with his last breath. Ball(Stone) entered the net, Nigeria wins, Okwaraji dies.

This is the version I heard as a kid


Continue to rest on Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji








And Ohhh, India got banned from playing football after the match(I forgot this part)

LMAO

Chukwumagordian:


That's what I heard also.
But we were told he loosed his boot, on taking the shot, his boot went together with the ball.

The goal keeper catched his boot while the ball enters the post .

That's what I heard oh

LOL.... But seriously who fabricated that story

Wow. It's 30 years already. Where's the time gone? Dude's probably reincarnated by now.

Chukwumagordian:


That's what I heard also.
But we were told he loosed his boot, on taking the shot, his boot went together with the ball.

The goal keeper catched his boot while the ball enters the post .

That's what I heard oh

ooh blood of Holy Goliath.... them don lie for una no be small... hope u people will not pass the lie to una unborn children..

futurist369:
I swear down,naso them tell me sef

Me too

izzou:

Nigeria was playing India and the rule of that particular game was if Nigeria could score just 1, Nigeria wins(whoever created such useless rule)

India was leading Nigeria with 99 goals. When they(the Indians) want to score, the ball turns to a lion and our goal keeper runs for his life. Then they score with ease

But Okwaraji(of Blessed memory) summoned courage. Took the ball, was about to take a shot. Ball turned into a big stone. He didn't mind. Kicked the stone with his last breath. Ball(Stone) entered the net, Nigeria wins, Okwaraji dies.

This is the version I heard as a kid


Continue to rest on Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji








And Ohhh, India got banned from playing football after the match(I forgot this part)

Same here

Fathertony:
blessings to whoever started this story, he/she made my childhood complete!!! Wow!

so this story got across everywhere then

izzou:

Nigeria was playing India and the rule of that particular game was if Nigeria could score just 1, Nigeria wins(whoever created such useless rule)

India was leading Nigeria with 99 goals. When they(the Indians) want to score, the ball turns to a lion and our goal keeper runs for his life. Then they score with ease

But Okwaraji(of Blessed memory) summoned courage. Took the ball, was about to take a shot. Ball turned into a big stone. He didn't mind. Kicked the stone with his last breath. Ball(Stone) entered the net, Nigeria wins, Okwaraji dies.

This is the version I heard as a kid


Continue to rest on Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji








And Ohhh, India got banned from playing football after the match(I forgot this part)

Please stop spreading fake news.

This story is for Thunder Balogun not Samuel Okwaraji . I watch the live match on DSTV between India Vs Nigeria where Thunder Balogun scored the only goal for Nigeria. the match ended 99 - 1

.

He had a Masters Degree and was Down to earth
Rest in Power Sam okwaraji

I sell Customised Soccer Jerseys quality products 10k naira Only per Jersey thanks

Continue to rest in peace..