As an unknown player, it was difficult to force a breakthrough at the mighty Rome, so he moved to Dinamo Zagreb (1985–1986) in Yugoslavia and then on to Klagenfurt (1986–1987) in Austria.
[7] Sam Okwaraji aspired to become Nigeria's Michel Platini and brazilian Falcao who were both his soccer role models.
None were answered until the Nigeria Football Association chairman, John Obakpolor, agreed with the coaches Manfred Höner and Paul Hamilton to bring him into the training camp when the Nigerian national team was on a tour in West Germany.
Okwaraji remained central to the squad as it began the process of building towards their ultimate aim of a place at the 1990 World Cup.
[16] Okwaraji collapsed ten minutes from the end of the 1990 World Cup qualifier against Angola in Lagos.
[17] He died from possible complications of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as an autopsy showed that the 25-year-old had an enlarged heart and high blood pressure.
[18][19] Samuel Okwaraji is known as a legend nowadays, a patriot who gave his life to the nation out of love and passion for football.
All of a sudden he started playing for the national team of Nigeria where he became a vital key player after his first game.
[22][23] When Sam Okwaraji started playing for the national team, the Nigerian Football Association asked permission from SSV-ULM 1846, which his club was only willing to accept after having been paid a sum of $45,000.
[25][26][27] 20 years after his death, as an act of honour and remembrance, the Nigerian government set up a statue of Sam Okwaraji in front of the stadium where he passed away.
There is hope that a new Sam Okwaraji will rise up soon and continue the short but memorable career of his uncle, who passed away on the pitch at the age of only 25.