Biography Intro: Sam Okoye (1 May 1980 – 31 August 2005) was a Nigerian football goalkeeper who represented Nigeria during the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.
NAME: Sam Okoye
DATE OF BIRTH: 1 May 1980 – 31 August 2005
PLACE OF BIRTH: Nigeria
OCCUPATION: Nigerian football goalkeeper who represented Nigeria during the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.
CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:
He was first choice goalkeeper for Rangers International of Enugu for several years and later Enyimba of Aba before leaving for Iran after trying unsuccessfully to play in Europe. Sam was a complete goalkeeper noted for his superb reflexes, agility and composure between the sticks. He can be described as Nigeria’s Jose Chilavert though he was not controversial or a set-piece expert.
In spite of his abilities, Sam Okoye was not given a look-in by Nigeria’s football coaches at international competitions after the U-20 World Youth Championship in 1999. However he was part of Nigeria’s squad to Sydney 2000 Olympic Games where team handler Jo Bonfere picked Greg Etafia, who was much of a left-footer and visibly lacked ambidexterity, ahead of him much to the surprise of millions of Nigerian fans. Sam [in jersey number 18] is the only squad member who did not feature in Nigeria’s 4 games at the Olympics.
Until his demise, Sam Okoye never made the squad to the African Cup of Nations and the World Cup.