Godwin Okpara
Godwin Okpara (born 20 September 1972) is a former football defender. He was part of the Nigeria squads that participated in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, 2000 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2000 Summer Olympics.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 20 September 1972 | ||
| Place of birth | Obaku, Imo, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1989 | Obanta United | ||
| 1989–1991 | K. Beerschot V.A.C. | 21 | (0) |
| 1991–1996 | Eendracht Aalst | 88 | (5) |
| 1996–1999 | Strasbourg | 96 | (6) |
| 1999–2001 | Paris Saint-Germain | 19 | (0) |
| 2001–2004 | Standard Liège | 67 | (1) |
| National team | |||
| 1991–2001 | Nigeria | 18 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
Okpara was outstanding at the 1989 U-17 World Championship, and moved to Belgian club 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.[1] 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.[2] He was found guilty and imprisoned in June 2007 for 10 years. His wife, Linda Okpara, was sentenced to 15 years in jail for torture of the same girl.[3][4]
References
- "RC Strasbourg Alsace - Girondins de Bordeaux". ligue1.com. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
- "Nigeria's Okpara in French jail". BBC. 24 August 2005. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
- "Former Nigerian football player sentenced to 13 years for rape". Soccerway. 1 June 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
- "Okpara sentenced to jail for rape". BBC. 23 February 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
