Nigerian Football Mourns as Lawrence Onweazu Okonji, Green Eagles Legend, Dies at 83
Nigeria’s football community is mourning the passing of Lawrence Onweazu Okonji, a former Green Eagles striker whose name remains etched in the early history of the nation’s football development. Okonji died at the age of 83, TalkTalk Nigeria reports.
Okonji wore the national colours with pride for a full decade, first receiving his invitation to the Green Eagles squad in 1963 and playing until 1973—a period that laid the foundations for what would eventually become the modern Super Eagles.
During his time with the national team, he shared the pitch with some of Nigeria’s most iconic football figures: Joseph Erico, Peter Anieke, Paul Hamilton, and Sebastian Brodricks. These men would later go on to shape the future of Nigerian football from the sidelines—Hamilton as head coach, Erico and Brodricks as assistant coaches, and Brodricks famously guiding the Golden Eaglets to win the inaugural FIFA U-16 World Cup in China in 1985.
Okonji’s exceptional talent also shone through in international friendlies, including memorable encounters with Queens Park Rangers of England and Fortuna Düsseldorf of Germany. Yet one moment stands above the rest:
On June 6, 1973, Okonji scored the final goal ever recorded at the historic Lagos City Stadium—now the Mobolaji Johnson Arena—during a symbolic farewell game between NEPA and Stationery Stores. It was a poetic ending to an era, adding his name forever to the legend of a venue that once hosted global icons like Pelé.
Beyond the national team, Okonji made significant contributions at the club level, playing for respected sides including Sharks, NEPA of Lagos, Port Authority of Lagos, and Aba Giant Killers (now Enyimba). He also represented Lagos State in the maiden National Sports Festival in 1973.
After retiring from active football, Okonji transitioned into coaching—extending his passion for the game into mentorship roles. He managed teams such as NEPA FC Lagos, Guinness FC, Lagos Academicals, Requins de l’Atlantique FC of Benin Republic, and Delta Force.
Opinion: A Generation We Are Losing Too Quietly
The passing of Lawrence Okonji is more than the end of a chapter—it is a reminder of an entire generation of football pioneers whose legacies risk fading into silence.
These were men who played for passion long before football became a global financial empire. They represented Nigeria with commitment, not contracts; with pride, not publicity. Okonji’s story—scoring a historic final goal at Lagos City Stadium, playing alongside legends, helping shape the early football culture—is the kind of tale young players should be hearing today.
Yet, as each icon leaves us, we often scramble to celebrate their life only at the final whistle.
Nigeria must do better. We need stronger documentation, intentional honouring, and continuous celebration of these football architects. Okonji and his contemporaries helped build the foundation on which today’s football stars stand—often without the financial rewards or global visibility modern players enjoy.
In losing him, we are not just saying goodbye to a man, but to a piece of our football soul.
His life deserves to be remembered, studied, and celebrated—not just in news headlines, but in the hearts of football lovers across the nation.
