- Godwin Okpara
Godwin Okpara (born
September 20 ,1972 inLagos ) is a formerfootball defender . Capped for Nigeria, he was part of the team that participated in the1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2000 Summer Olympics.Okpara was outstanding at the 1989 U-17 World Championship, and moved to Belgian club Beerschot. After some years of relative success, for instance winning the
Belgian Ebony Shoe , he moved to play in France forRC Strasbourg andParis SG . His second season in the latter club was miserable, making him return to Belgium andStandard 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 step-daughter. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/4181316.stm|title=Nigeria's Okpara in French jail|accessdate=2008-02-23|date=2005-08-24|publisher=BBC] He was found guilty and imprisoned in June 2007. [cite web|url=http://www.soccerway.com/news/2007/June/1/former-nigerian-football-player-sentenced-to-13-years-for-rape|title=Former Nigerian football player sentenced to 13 years for rape|accessdate=2008-02-23|date=2007-06-01|publisher=Soccerway] [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7260750.stm|title=Okpara sentenced to jail for rape|accessdate=2008-02-23|date=2008-02-23|publisher=BBC]
Playing career
*1989 : flagicon|Nigeria Obanta United
*1989-90 : flagicon|Belgium Beerschot (1/0)
*1990-91 : flagicon|Belgium Beerschot (20/0)
*1991-92 : flagicon|BelgiumK.S.C. Eendracht Aalst (30/1)
*1992-93 : flagicon|BelgiumK.S.C. Eendracht Aalst
*1993-94 : flagicon|BelgiumK.S.C. Eendracht Aalst
*1994-95 : flagicon|BelgiumK.S.C. Eendracht Aalst (32/0)
*1995-96 : flagicon|BelgiumK.S.C. Eendracht Aalst (26/4)
*1996-97 : flagicon|FranceRC Strasbourg (34/4)
*1997-98 : flagicon|FranceRC Strasbourg (30/2)
*1998-99 : flagicon|FranceRC Strasbourg (32/0)
*1999-00 : flagicon|FranceParis Saint-Germain (15/0)
*2000-01 : flagicon|FranceParis Saint-Germain (4/0)
*2001-02 : flagicon|BelgiumStandard Liège (30/1)
*2002-03 : flagicon|BelgiumStandard Liège (27/0)
*2003-04 : flagicon|BelgiumStandard Liège (10/0)References
External references
* [http://www.nigerianplayers.com/player.asp?pID=155 Nigerian Players]
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