The Nigeria Football Federation, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, as well as many football fans around the globe have been sending congratulatory messages to a well-respected former Nigeria goalkeeper, Emmanuel Okala, who attained the age of 70 on Monday, May 17, 2021.
In a statement released Monday, the NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, praised the towering goaltender for his meritorious service to his fatherland by delivering his best anytime he turned out for both the senior men’s team (then known as Green Eagles) and Rangers International FC of Enugu.
Okala, an imposing figure between the sticks at 6ft 5inches, emerged during an era in which Nigeria produced a long line of exceptional goalkeepers, including Inua Rigogo, Peter Fregene, Amusa Adisa, and Eyo Essien.
He earned his first cap in a friendly against Tanzania in Lagos that Nigeria won 3-2, and was in the team that won All-Africa Games football gold in Lagos in 1973, took bronze medals at the Africa Cup of Nations in 1978 and finished as runners-up at the All-Africa Games in Algiers four months later.
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