- Watch Video interview with late mum of Okwaraji
I am a lawyer you know and signed to play football for certain conditions but I don’t think it included reselling my services to my country. You or your club cannot stop me from playing for my country. Let me tell you, I am going to represent my country whether you like it or not – Sam Okwaraji tells SSV 1846 manager who tried to stop him from honouring a call from Nigeria.
Many do not know that the former Super Eagles midfielder, Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji to whom the Super Eagles of Nigeria alongside the NFF (Nigeria Football Federation) dedicated the 1-0 victory against Angola for a semi final spot in the 2023 AFCON was a law graduate.
In the 77th minute of a World Cup qualification match against the same opponent Angola at the overcrowded 40,000-capacity stadium Lagos National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos State on 12 August 1989, Okwaraji who studied law at Sapienza University of Rome (Sapienza – Università di Roma), spoke five languages -English, German, Italian, Spanish and his native Igbo slumped and died.
The Green Eagles were thrown into disarray and all attempts to revive him failed.
While the 25-year-old is suspected to have died from possible complications of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as an autopsy showed that the had an enlarged heart and high blood pressure, some allege he passed because the ambulance to take him to the hospital did not start and there was no backup.
According to his mother in an interview: “He was very keen, very serious, very anxious to play for his country. He said that Nigeria has never come into World Cup, world map, that he wanted to bring Nigeria to the world map and I said you yourself would bring Nigeria to the world map, I didn’t know what it meant then…..he wasn’t the only one invited. Others were invited but didn’t go because they said Nigeria was not giving them anything, any money…but Sam uses his little money to come down to Nigeria, they don’t send them tickets…”
Fans in a chat with The PUNCH said Okwaraji’s memory would forever remain with those who watched him play.
Ganiu Yusuf said, “I was privileged to watch Okwaraji play the very day he died and I can say I can never forget that moment. It was a scary moment and I was somewhere close to the pitch when I saw him go down.
“But truth be told, we never thought that was the end of him. Very skilful and maybe the best of his time.
“He will never be forgotten by those who watched him play then and maybe not by this generation who didn’t watch him.”
Adekunle Tope added, “I was very young when he died but I still remember the incident. He was a great player by all standards and he will be forever missed.”
For Akintoroye Francis, he is privileged to have watched one of Nigeria’s football greats live.
“I am happy I watched one of the best players this country had produced even though his career was cut short.
“He was 25 when he died but in the short time you could see his talent and the quality. A lot of us thought the future was bright but unfortunately the incident happened, but there is nothing we can do but to appreciate the little moment we saw of him.
“He will forever be celebrated and I am happy some media houses still find him worthy to be celebrated every year.”
A Nigerian in his early 50s, Taiwo Stephen, told The PUNCH they kept praying for the fallen footballer, until they learnt he had passed on.
“Back then, I was much younger and used to watch most of the Super Eagles’ games, so I was at the stadium on that day. Okwaraji was a very good footballer, but he had been playing like it was an off day. However, it was still amazing to watch him and Etim Esin play before that incident happened.
“We were all watching and suddenly he fell and he was rushed off the pitch. I remember we were all praying for him on the way home before we later learnt of his death the next day,” Stephen said.
The father of three confessed that the weather was indeed harsh that day.
“It was very hot that day and there were too many people in the stadium. I think I even heard that some people among the fans died.
Okwaraji’s legacy will never die as long as we continue to tell these stories to our children. He was a brilliant footballer and inspired many of the next generation that won the Olympic gold medal and the African Cup of Nations,” Stephen added.
Okwaraji was more than just a football player; he was a symbol of dedication, courage and selflessness.
Born May 19, 1964, in Umudioka Orlu, Imo State, Southeastern Nigeria, Okwaraji exhibited exceptional talent from an early age. As he grew, his passion for both education and football blossomed.
His journey took him from his hometown to Europe, where he pursued higher education while simultaneously pursuing his football dreams.
He attended WTC Practicing School, Enugu for his primary education, and Ezeachi Secondary School, Orlu, Imo State. He later went to Federal Government College, Orlu and got both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in International Law. His Masters’ in International Law was from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome.
What stood out was not just the loss of a talented footballer, but the legacy he left behind. Okwaraji’s commitment to his team, his country and his dreams became an enduring source of inspiration. Reports at the time said he paid his flight tickets to represent his country.
His sacrifice on the pitch became a powerful reminder of the importance of pursuing one’s passions, no matter the obstacles.
His father, Mr. David Okwaraji worked with the defunct Nigeria Airways as a Duty Officer with the mother, Lady Janet Okwaraji being a retired school headmistress. Samuel Okwaraji has four brothers and two sisters.
According to his mother, Sam had a very active childhood and played various games while growing up. Football was one of them while table tennis was another. But however, he seemed to enjoy football more.
He was a talented midfielder wearing the Number 6 jersey for Nigeria, Okwaraji had an eventful soccer career which was unfortunately very short. During the 1988 Nations Cup in Morocco, he blasted one of the fastest goals past the Cameroonian goalkeeper -all within 60 seconds! He was later named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) -twice.
The Nigerian Football Association requested his release from SSV-ULM 1846, his club, so he could come and represent Nigeria in the match but his club refused demanding that NFA pay a sum of $45,000 in gating fees which the late Group Captain John Obakpolor, reduced the deal to $15,000.
On the 12th of August, 2009, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State unveiled a concrete bust of Samuel Okwaraji in the Rededicated Memorial Garden in his honour in front of the same stadium where he died.
