Nationwide School Cup to Honour Sam Okwaraji Gets NFF Nod

The Nigeria Football Federation has sanctioned the Sam Okwaraji Secondary Schools Soccer Championship, setting the stage for an annual tournament in every state. The green light came after the Senate Committee on Sports Development, chaired by Senator Abdul Ningi, endorsed the proposal and urged the federation to act swiftly.

Conceived by the Samuel Okwaraji Foundation, the competition is meant to celebrate the memory of the gifted midfielder who collapsed and died at the National Stadium, Surulere, during a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Angola in August 1989.

In a letter signed by the Acting Director of Competitions, Ruth David, the NFF said its approval recognises “the objectives and goals of the championship, which will not only impact positively on participating youths but also advance football development across the country.” The federation praised the foundation’s vision for grassroots growth and pledged institutional support.

Organisers have been reminded to apply “extant rules of football as approved by FIFA” when the tournament begins later this year.

Okwaraji, who combined top-flight football with academic pursuits in Rome, became a symbol of patriotism by consistently putting national duty before personal gain.

His selfless service to the Super Eagles then the Green Eagles remains a touchstone for Nigerian youths more than three decades after his passing.

Editorial

We welcome the NFF’s decision because it finally aligns official action with public sentiment. For years, Nigerians have called for more than occasional tributes; they have asked for enduring programmes that connect Okwaraji’s spirit of sacrifice to today’s classrooms and football pitches. A nationwide schools’ championship does precisely that, placing his legacy where it belongs in the hands and feet of teenagers who still dream of pulling on national colours.

Yet endorsement is only the first hurdle. We must insist on transparent funding, equitable access for all 36 states and the FCT, and a merit-based pathway that rewards real talent rather than political patronage. If we leave these details to chance, the initiative risks becoming another ceremonial fixture that fades after the opening whistle.

We also believe the competition should fuse sport with education. Scholarships for standout players, clinics run by retired professionals, and partnerships with health agencies would mirror Okwaraji’s own blend of intellect and athletic excellence. By weaving such elements into the tournament’s fabric, we demonstrate that football can complement the classroom rather than compete with it.

Accountability matters too. Annual audits, publicly released fixtures, and live-streamed finals would assure parents that their children’s efforts are valued and that resources reach intended targets. We owe young Nigerians a system they can trust, not merely a slogan stamped on match balls.

Finally, let us broaden the symbolism. A rotating host city, community service projects tied to each edition, and a mandatory minute’s applause before kick-off would keep the late midfielder’s ethos in plain sight. When we honour his integrity in concrete ways, we teach that patriotism is action, not rhetoric.

The NFF has opened the door it now falls to all of us federation officials, schools, sponsors and supporters—to stride through and build a championship worthy of Sam Okwaraji’s name. That shared responsibility is the surest path to turning a memorial idea into a living tradition.

Did You Know?

1. Okwaraji’s thunderous strike against Cameroon at Maroc ’88 found the net after just 89 seconds—the fastest goal of that Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
2. He routinely bought his own air tickets to national-team camps, refusing to burden the football authorities with travel costs.
3. The NFF has considered retiring the Super Eagles’ iconic No. 6 jersey to honour him permanently.
4. In 2009, a life-size statue of the midfielder was unveiled outside the Lagos stadium where he died, marking the 20th anniversary of his passing.
5. An autopsy confirmed he suffered congestive heart failure caused by an enlarged heart and severe hypertension—conditions that often go undetected in young athletes.