Sam Okwaraji: 77th minute 30 years ago

&NewLine;<p>Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji<em>&comma;<&sol;em> a dependable midfielder and one of Nigeria’s best legs&comma; died at age 25 exactly 30 years ago on the field&comma; playing patriotically for his dear country&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>He collapsed and died of&nbsp&semi;congestive heart failure&nbsp&semi;in the 77th minute of a&nbsp&semi;World Cup qualification match&nbsp&semi;against Angola at the&nbsp&semi;Lagos National Stadium<em>&comma;<&sol;em>&nbsp&semi;Surulere&comma;<a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;en&period;wikipedia&period;org&sol;wiki&sol;Surulere&comma;&lowbar;Lagos&lowbar;State"> <&sol;a>on 12 August 1989&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Born on May 19&comma; 1964&comma; Okwaraji who hailed from Orlu&comma; Imo State was a professional&nbsp&semi;footballer<em>&comma;<&sol;em> a qualified lawyer who had a masters in international law from the Pontifical Lateran University<em>&comma; <&sol;em>Rome&period;<em> <&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Between 1988 and 89&comma; he appeared 8 times for the Nigeria national team with a fantastic goal to his credit&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>He played in leading international clubs across countries in Europe like Dinamo Zagreb<em>&comma; <&sol;em>VfB Stuttgart among others&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;