Lawrence Onweazu Okonji, a former Nigerian striker, has passed away.
Daily Post reports that Okonji d!ed at the age of 83.
Okonji made his name during his time with the Green Eagles, now known as the Super Eagles.
The former forward was first invited to the national team in 1963, and played for the team until 1973.
He played alongside football legends such as Joseph Erico, Peter Anieke, Paul Hamilton, and Sebastian Brodricks.
Hamilton once handled the Super Eagles, while Erico and Brodricks served as assistant coaches.
Brodricks also managed the Golden Eaglets side that won the inaugural FIFA U-16 World in China in 1985.
Okonji’s performances in international friendlies against teams like Queens Park Rangers of England and Fortuna Düsseldorf of Germany remain memorable highlights of his career.
One of the defining moments of his illustrious career came on June 6, 1973, when he scored the final goal at the historic Lagos City Stadium (now Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan) during a friendly match between NEPA and Stationery Stores marking the symbolic closure of the old ground that had hosted football greats including Pelé.
He also represented Lagos State at the first National Sports Festival in 1973.
At the club level, Okonji played for top clubs like the defuncts Sharks, NEPA of Lagos, Port Authority of Lagos , and Aba Giant Killers (now Enyimba).
Okonji later moved into coaching, and handled clubs such as NEPA FC Lagos, Guinness FC, Lagos Academicals, Requins de l’Atlantique FC of Benin Republic, and Delta Force (formerly DSC FC).
