Pictured: 26 years after, ex-football star Etim Esin pays tribute to soccer hero Samuel Okwaraji

Etim Esin John retired as a Super Eagles  international footballer who represented Nigeria at the 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship and in 6 FIFA World Cup qualification matches. Earlier today, he posted a picture of himself by the statue of Samuel Okwaraji in front of the National Staduim in Surulere, Lagos.  His picture was captioned “Respect to my late friend Sam Pkwaraji, RIP bro, your soul is blessed #onelove”.

etim esin

Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji (19 May 1964 – 12 August 1989) was a professional footballer who played internationally for Nigeria. He was also a qualified lawyer who had a masters in international law from the University of Rome. He collapsed and died of congestive heart failure in the 77th minute of a World Cup qualification match against Angola at the main bowl Lagos National Stadium on 12 August 1989. An autopsy showed that the dreadlocked Okwaraji who was 25 years old at the time, had an enlarged heart and high blood pressure.