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Godwin Okpara

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Godwin Okpara
Personal information
Date of birth (1972-09-20) 20 September 1972 (age 52)
Place of birth Ogbaku, Nigeria
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989 Obanta United
1989–1991 Beerschot 21 (0)
1991–1996 Eendracht Aalst 94 (1)
1996–1999 Strasbourg 96 (6)
1999–2001 Paris Saint-Germain 19 (0)
2001–2004 Standard Liège 67 (1)
International career
2000 Nigeria Olympic (O.P.) 4 (0)
1991–2001 Nigeria 18 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Godwin Okpara (born 20 September 1972) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a defender. He was part of the Nigeria national team squads that participated in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, 2000 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Career

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Okpara was outstanding[1] at the 1989 U-17 World Championship,in Scotland. His impressive skills caught the attention of Pelé, who hailed him as a future world-class player, praising his football skill. The Imo State-born defender, after playing for AGIP FC of Lagos and Obanta United began his foreign professional stint in Belgium in 1989 with Beerschot.[2] After some years of relative success playing for Eendracht Aalst, including winning the Belgian Ebony Shoe, he moved to play in France for RC Strasbourg and Paris Saint-Germain. While at Strasbourg he won the Coupe de la Ligue in 1997, playing in the final.[3] His second season with PSG was miserable,[4] making him return to Belgium and Standard Liège. Okpara retired after the 2003–04 season.

Prison

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In August 2005, Okpara was arrested by French police on charges of raping his 13-year-old adopted daughter, Awawu Tina.[5] He was found guilty and imprisoned in June 2007 for thirteen years, but his sentence was reduced to seven years due a successful appeal. His wife, Linda Okpara, was sentenced to 15 years in jail for torture of the same girl.[6][7] In November 2017, he was arraigned in an Ikeja Magistrate Court for allegedly battering his wife of 25 years.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Pele's boy, Okpara reminisces career success, setbacks". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Godwin Okpara biography, net worth, age, family, contact & picture". www.manpower.com.ng. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  3. ^ "RC Strasbourg Alsace - Girondins de Bordeaux". ligue1.com. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Nigeria: Okpara - Fall of a Super Eagles Star".
  5. ^ "Nigeria's Okpara in French jail". BBC. 24 August 2005. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
  6. ^ "Former Nigerian football player sentenced to 13 years for rape". Soccerway. 1 June 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
  7. ^ "Okpara sentenced to jail for rape". BBC. 23 February 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
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