Nigerians on Friday marked the 33rd anniversary of the death of former Nigeria international Sam Okwaraji.
The former midfielder, who was also a qualified lawyer, collapsed and died of congestive heart failure in the 77th minute of a World Cup qualification match against Angola in Lagos on August 12, 1989.
Okwaraji starred for European clubs such as AS Roma, NK Dinamo Zagreb, Austria Klagenfurt, VfB Stuttgart, and SSV Ulm 1846.
He made the Green Eagles squad in 1988 and at that year’s African Nations Cup where he scored one of the fastest goals in the history of the championship against Cameroon.
Okwaraji also made four appearances for the Nigerian Olympic team in 1988, one during the qualifiers, and three at the Olympics.
Okwaraji hailed from Orlu in Imo State. He was 25 years old at the time of his death.
See tributes below:
