The Nigeria Football Federation, on Monday, marked the 30th anniversary of the death of footballer, Samuel Okwaraji.
Via its verified Twitter handle, the NFF shared a video in memory of the late football player.
In the video, NFF president, Amaju Pinnick was quoted as saying, “We still feel and respect the labours of our heroes past, and we want to say today, being the 30th year that Late Okwaraji passed on while playing, we still feel the sacrifice and patriotism that he showed, playing for this great country. And we have learnt great lessons from that patriot, even as we continue to use his attitude to guide young talents.”
It's been 30 years since this real and true Nigerian Patriot passed on while on duty for the country. Keep resting in peace, Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji. #WeRememberSam pic.twitter.com/GjUNjCZTlx
— The NFF 🇳🇬 (@thenff) August 12, 2019
Okwaraji died at the National Stadium, Surulereon the 12th August 1989, during a match.
Okwaraji collapsed 10 minutes from the end of a 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Angola. He died from possible complications of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as an autopsy showed that the then 25-year-old had an enlarged heart and high blood pressure.
Prior to that sad incident, Sam had a blooming career in Europe and 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 the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. He played well into the final match, which the Eagles lost to Cameroon by a lone goal.