Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji was a prodigious Nigerian football player who also played for his country and international teams. On May 19, 1964, he was born in the city of Orlu in the state of Imo to a duty officer named Mr. David Okwaraji and a headmistress named Lady Janet Okwaraji. Samuel Okwaraji received his primary education at Ezeachi Secondary School in Orlu, Imo State, and his secondary education at WTC Practicing School in Enugu. Sam Okwaraji also went to the Federal Government College in Orlu and finished his studies in law at the University of Rome in Italy. However, despite his education, he did not pursue a career in law. Samuel Okwaraji played for VfB Stuttgart, SSV Ulm 1846, and NK Dinamo Zagreb while pursuing a master’s degree in international law at the University of Rome, where he performed exceptionally.
Samuel Okwaraji joined the Green Eagles squad in 1988; He did something unexpected against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon at the African Nations Cup, which was held in Morocco in the same year. He scored one of the goals in one of the fastest 60-second games ever played. Sam Okwaraji also participated in sports at the Seoul, South Korea, “1988 Summer Olympics.” He collaborated with professional performers such as Samson Siasia, Rashidi Yekeni, Bright Omokaro, Wole Odegbami, Christain Obi, Jude Agada, Henry Nwosu, and others.
Samuel Okwaraji tragically passed away on August 12, 1989, at the unripe age of 25, right on the football field in front of 20,000 spectators. In the 77th minute of a 2nd round World Cup qualifier against Angola at the Surulere Stadium, now the Lagos National Stadium, in Lagos State, he collapsed and died of heart failure. Nigeria suffered a significant and irreplaceable loss as a result. In his hometown, Umudioka Community in Imo State, he was given a fitting and heroic burial.
On August 12, 2009, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State erected a concrete burst of Samuel Okwaraji in front of Lagos National Stadium, the same stadium where he died, as a means of immortalizing this icon.
