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Godwin Okpara

Nigerian footballer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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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.

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Career

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.

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Prison

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]

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References

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