Ladipo Wants NFF To Honour Okwaraji

Following the Nigeria Football Federation move to honour former Green Eagles star, Muda Lawal with the upcoming friendly international between the Super Eagles and Black stars of Ghana come August 9 in London, an appeal has been made to the body to equally used the occasion to honour another Nigeria midfielder Samuel Okwaraji who died on August 12 1989 while playing for the country.

President General of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Dr Rafiu Ladipo while commending the NFF for their move to honour Muda who died 20 years ago said, it will be a great move if the gesture could be extended to Okwaraji’s family who slumped and died while in active service for the country.

Okwaraji slumped and died during the second-half of Nigeria ’s World Cup qualifier against Angola in Lagos .

“While I’m not in any way trying to create any controversy by this call, I’m just trying to let the NFF know that they should extend the gesture to the immediate family of Sam (Okwaraji) who like Muda was a committed to national service during their time in the senior national team,” Ladipo stated, adding “Both are some of the best midfielders that has ever played for the Nigeria national team.”

Ladipo is of the view that since the August 9 date was closer to the 22nd anniversary of Okwaraji’s unfortunate death, and the match itself is generating lots of interests across football fans in both Ghana , the gesture will go a long way in restating NFF’s avowed commitment in celebrating the nation’s past football heroes.