Sam Okoye (1 May 1980 – 31 August 2005) was a Nigerian
football goalkeeper
In many team sports which involve scoring goals, the goalkeeper (sometimes termed goaltender, netminder, GK, goalie or keeper) is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by blocking or intercepting ...
who represented
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of G ...
during the
1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.
Death
Four months after his 25th birthday, whilst living in
Tehran
Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the Capital city, capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is th ...
, he reportedly died there after a few days illness. The cause and circumstances of his death have not been adequately elucidated and Iranian authorities did not release his remains for repatriation and burial in Nigeria until May 2006.
The duo of
Daniel Olerum and
Sunny Okoye disclosed from the Iranian capital, Tehran that officials of Sorkh Poushan FC have agreed to foot the flight bills of the late footballer.
References
1980 births
2005 deaths
Footballers from Lagos
Nigerian men's footballers
Nigeria men's under-20 international footballers
Nigerian expatriate men's footballers
Rangers International F.C. players
Enyimba F.C. players
Expatriate men's footballers in Iran
Men's association football goalkeepers
{{Nigeria-footy-goalkeeper-stub