Samuel Okwaraji was a Nigerian professional footballer who played for the national team at tournaments.
He was a man who completed a degree to study law while still pushing his football career.
He collapsed on the pitch and died during a World Cup qualifiers match in Lagos in 1989.
Table of Contents
Samuel Okwaraji Bio
He was born May 19, 1964, in Imo State, Nigeria. Samuel Okwaraji lived a short life that ended at age 25.
He grew up in his local town called Umudioka in Orlu, located in the eastern part of Nigeria called Imo State.
His parents did so well in making sure they made a lot of things available for him to grow up into a successful man.
His full name is Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji, which his dad and mom called him after his birth.
READ MORE – Augustine Eguavoen Bio Career Net Worth
His father’s name is David Okwaraji. He was a former worker with Nigeria Airways, where he performed as a duty officer.
His mother’s name is Janet Okwaraji. He was a former headmistress who worked in a school during her early age.
He grew up in a big family with four brothers and two additional sisters who all stayed under the same roof in Imo State.
As a child, he loved sports, and his mother claimed Samuel Okwaraji took part in various activities at home and in school.
He started pushing his football career at a younger age with the support of his parents, who played a huge part.
He did his education in Enugu, where he attended a Practicing school called WTC during his primary level.
He attended a school called Ezeachi for his secondary level, at which point, he was already playing local football.
He had higher education at a Federal College in Orlu, his hometown, and birthplace.
He also furthered his education by studying in Rome. He and his parents planned out his whole life so well.
Okwaraji Club Career
Okwaraji started his football career in Europe and played for the Italian club AS Roma between 1984 and 1985.
He then played for NK Dinamo Zagreb after leaving AS Roma until 1986. VfB Stuttgart signed Samuel in 1987 on a two-year contract agreement.
While at Dinamo Zagreb, Samuel scored three goals in a match on April 30, 1986, against NK Budućnost Hodošan, and his team won 12-0.
Samuel’s played for Dinamo only once in the Yugoslav First League in the match against FK Priština.
Dinamo played the match Vs. FK Priština Maksimir stadium in Zagreb won 4-3.
He was signed with Belgian club K. Berchem Sport when he died on the pitch.
He played with many names in his career, which took off at a younger age before making it to Europe.
During his time with Dinamo Zagreb, the first club in Europe, he had the opportunity to play just once.
He moved in 1984 to Austria Klagenfurt, where he had more opportunities playing for 14 games without scoring any goal.
His time with VfB Stuttgart didn’t go well, as he had to endure by making a move elsewhere on loan.
During his loan move with SSV Ulm, he played in 28 games, recording his highest amount of goals.
Samuel Okwaraji scored five goals before leaving SSV Ulm. His move to K. Berchem Sport was the last of his career.
Okwaraji Nigeria Career
He made his debut for the Nigeria national team in 1988.
At the 1988 African Nations Cup, Samuel scored one of the fastest goals in history against Cameroon.
He played with the Nigeria national football team until the final match, where Nigeria lost to their African rivals Cameroon by a goal.
Okwaraji played four matches for the Nigerian Olympic team in 1988, during the qualifiers and at the Olympics.
He was one of Nigeria’s heroes during his short time on the National team, which ended with his death.
His legacy continues in Nigerian football, with many aspiring to make a career like him.
Samuel Okwaraji Death
Samuel collapsed and died ten minutes before the 1990 World Cup qualifier match against Angola ended in Lagos.
The 25-year-old at the time died from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and the autopsy showed that he had high blood pressure.
In 2019, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) posted a remembrance message on Twitter about Samuel Okwaraji.
The NFF wrote: “Today, we remember Samuel Okwaraji, who passed on in 1989. His legend will live on forever. Rest. #WeRememberOkwaraji.”
His death was tragic, and many hearts got left broken after witnessing horrible events.
Until now, so many people are still debating how the medical team could have saved Okwaraji’s life with proper care.
The incident is one so many wish to get off their minds despite how long the case might have happened.
On May 19, 2019, Google honored Okwaraji’s legacy in what could have been his 55 years of being alive.
Samuel Okwaraji died defending Nigeria, and till this moment, he is a massive part of the country and its heritage.
Samuel Okwaraji Net Worth
His net worth during his death was $1 million. Samuel Okwaraji earned all his money from football in Europe.
He didn’t get to enjoy a long life which could have seen him make so much in his career.
He had one of the quickest breakthroughs despite starting locally in Nigeria before getting his exposure.
He had a bright future before everything ended upon his death at age 25.
He was not only planning on his football career but also had his backup plan after retirement, which was to practice law.
He managed to keep everything in motion as a typical Nigerian who always wanted to make their parents proud.
Most of his money came from football as he wasn’t actively into law due to his career taking off on the pitch.
Samuel Okwaraji created a legacy that so many are still looking up to achieve and see come to reality.
