Tomorrow, 12th of August, 2016, makes it exactly 27 year since the exit of Nigeria’s first football martyr, Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji‎.

The sad event occurred on a tension-soaked Saturday, 12th August, 1989, during a make or mar Italia 1990 World Cup qualifier match, between the Green Eagles and the boastful Angolan side. The pulsating encounter was held at the now pathetic and rickety National Stadium, in Surulere, Lagos.

http://www.tabloidnig.com/2016/08/27-years-after-remembering-sochukwuma.html

Rip to him

After your death . the national team are still struggling and politics has killed NFF

Keshi scored the lone goal on that day. Hope you guys have seen each other. Continue to rest in peace.

Rest in peace ✌ ko

RIP

NCA,Oya Do Yr Work.
We MST Grow above sentiments, BT If We Can't, Then We MST Move Separate ways.

Rest on bro....but op,today Na 11th Na abi my calendar d reverse in?

I was too young to watch/remember that game, but I remember how sad my dad and uncles were whenever they mentioned Sam Okwaraji.
HE was also a qualified lawyer. HE studied law while playing football in Europe.

RIP.

I've not seen him play. Heard that he was a good player and died in active service.
You'll always be remembered, rest in peace!

,.

Rip to this great man, you and Keshia should recruit an heavenly dream team vi

I was born a week after his death

Lalasticlala...


Today is my Birthday..

My Birthday is the 11th of August..

Sam Okparaji died on the 12th of August not the 11th..



Thanks....

May his soul rest in peace.

he took part in the India 99-0 debacle

Continue Resting In Peace..you are an hero...definitely wasn't born den

Vikto:
May his soul rest in peace.

Amen bro.....amen.

Today is 11th not 12th August..RIP Sam.

Anything You are doing in this Country... You should always bear Two important Things in Mind. . .


1) Always Collect Your Pay From the Nation

2) Never... I repeat Never you die in the course of Your Duty for the Country...


No one will Remember You!!

Ohhh Okwaraji


Ohhh Okwaraji


Iwo nikan lowo baba. (Only child of Ur dad)

Iwo nikan lowo mama. (Only child of Ur mum)

Tiwon ba ngba boolu lorun. (If they play ball in Heaven)

Ko ge won lege ara. (Dribble them in a special way)

Rest on Samuel

hea

OP today is 11th not 12th August. Rest in peace Nigerian legend. StoneLucifer u 're a copy-cat.

Rip

RIP Sam

He lives on!

tysontim:
he took part in the India 99-0 debacle

that national lie we all believed

Goodeeman:
OP today is 11th not 12th August.

I tire o. Even the MOD na bebeto

He was a great player.... How time fly

I thought its the guy killed by India

Today is actually the 11th.

My dad and others were at the stadium, but I watched the match on tv at home. I saw when Okwaraji collapsed, when one of the players (I've forgotten who) put his hands on his head in alarm and when Okwaraji was stretchered into the ambulance. I assumed that he was alive and expected to read updates on his condition in the papers the next day.

I also saw as some fans were being carried over the fence and stretchered to the athletics track where Red Cross officials were attending to them. The stadium was too full and it seemed that the gates were opened during the second half and there was a scuffle between people who were trying to get into the arena and people who were trying to get out. Some people suffocated, while others were trampled.

But my uncle (who played for Nigeria in the '50s and '60s) showed up at the house after the match. "Where is ****" (my dad). "He's not back", I replied.

"They've killed this boy o!", my uncle exclaimed. I asked who and he replied that Okwaraji was dead. I didn't believe him. "But they put him in the ambulance", I replied. My uncle grew angry. "Which ambulance? Which ambulance? The boy was dead on the pitch. The ambulance was just for show, so that the crowd wouldn't panic".

I still refused to believe him, but I didn't argue, because I could see that he was upset. Instead, I went to my room and prayed, hoped and wished that Okwaraji was still alive. But unfortunately, it was reported on the NTA News that Okwaraji was dead.

This is my favourite goal by Okwaraji. I searched YouTube for a video of this goal from 2008 till 2016 before I eventually found one. That's because most people on YouTube prefer to post videos of the final, which was also between Nigeria and Cameroon.

This is a group stage match at the 1988 Nations Cup (Maroc '88) between Nigeria and Cameroon. Okwaraji scored in the second minute via a rocket shot from outside the penalty box (this is the kind of shot that Ernest Okonkwo would describe as an "intercontinental ballistic missile). It was the fastest goal at the Nations Cup at that time. Roger Milla equalised in the 21st minute, via a bullet header that beat Peter Rufai and it ended

Nigeria 1-1 Cameroon.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY9ZYHyTVwU