Godwin Okpara
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 20 September 1972 | ||
| Place of birth | Ogbaku, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1989 | Obanta United | ||
| 1989–1991 | Beerschot | 21 | (0) |
| 1991–1996 | Eendracht Aalst | 94 | (1) |
| 1996–1999 | Strasbourg | 96 | (6) |
| 1999–2001 | Paris Saint-Germain | 19 | (0) |
| 2001–2004 | Standard Liège | 67 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2000 | Nigeria Olympic (O.P.) | 4 | (0) |
| 1991–2001 | Nigeria | 18 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
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.
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.
