Godwin Okpara

Nigerian footballer

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Key Takeaways

Godwin Okpara (born 20 September 1972) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a defender.
Career Okpara was outstanding at the 1989 U-17 World Championship, in Scotland.
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.
While at Strasbourg he won the Coupe de la Ligue in 1997, playing in the final.
Okpara retired after the 2003–04 season.

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

Okpara was outstanding 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. 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. His second season with PSG was miserable, making him return to Belgium and Standard Liège. Okpara retired after the 2003–04 season.

Prison

In August 2005, Okpara was arrested by French police on charges of raping his 13-year-old adopted daughter, Awawu Tina. 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. In November 2017, he was arraigned in an Ikeja Magistrate Court for allegedly battering his wife of 25 years.