National U-16 Championship to Honour Late Football Legend Sam Okwaraji
Thirty-six years after the tragic death of Nigerian football star Dr. Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji during a World Cup qualifier against Angola, a new nationwide tournament will keep his legacy alive and inspire young players. The Sam Okwaraji U-16 Soccer Championship, themed “Patriotism, Education & Soccer”, will begin on November 8, 2025, with the goal of discovering and nurturing grassroots football talent across the country. Announcing the event in Abuja, Senator Osita Izunaso, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Capital Market and head of the organising committee, hailed Okwaraji as “a symbol of patriotism, sacrifice, and national pride” who died wearing the national colours. Okwaraji, born in Orlu, Imo State, on May 19, 1964, was celebrated not only for his football skills but also for his academic achievements — earning a first-class law degree and a master’s with distinction from the […]