{{short description|Nigerian footballer}} {{about|the Nigerian football goalkeeper|the Nigerian astrophysicist|Samuel Okoye}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Use Nigerian English|date=September 2019}} {{more citations needed|date=May 2013}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Sam Okoye | image = | fullname = Samuel Okoye | height = | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1980|5|1}} | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2005|8|31|1980|5|1}} | death_place = Tehran, Iran | birth_place = Lagos, Nigeria | currentclub = | clubnumber = | position = Goalkeeper | years1 = 1998–2004 | years2 = 2004–2005 | years3 =2005 | clubs1 = Enugu Rangers | clubs2 = Enyimba | clubs3 =Sorkhpooshan | caps1= | goals1 = | caps2 = | goals2 = | caps3 = | goals3 = | nationalyears1 = 1999 | nationalyears2 =2003 | nationalteam1 = Nigeria U19 | nationalteam2 = Nigeria | nationalcaps1= | nationalgoals1 = | nationalcaps2 = | nationalgoals2 = | pcupdate = | ntupdate = }}
'''Sam Okoye''' {{Audio|LL-Q33578 (ibo)-Vivian Amalachukwu-Sam Okoye.wav|Listen|help=no}} (1 May 1980 – 31 August 2005) was a Nigerian football goalkeeper who represented Nigeria during the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.
==Death== Four months after his 25th birthday, whilst living in Tehran, he reportedly died there after a few days illness. The cause and circumstances of his death have not been adequately elucidated and Iranian authorities did not release his remains for repatriation and burial in Nigeria until May 2006.<ref name=iranpro>{{cite news|url=http://www.iranproleague.net/index.php/the-news/1-latest-news/2769-Nigeria-%20Okoye%5C%27s%20Body%20Released%20by%20Iran|title=Nigeria: Okoye's Body Released by Iran |date= 17 May 2006 |work=iranproleague.net|accessdate=25 January 2010}}</ref> The duo of Daniel Olerum and Sunny Okoye disclosed from the Iranian capital, Tehran that officials of Sorkh Poushan FC have agreed to foot the flight bills of the late footballer.<ref name="iranpro"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/sports/2006/may/29/sports-29-05-2006-002.htm|title=Okoye’s corpse suffers more delay |date= 29 May 2006|accessdate=25 January 2010|location=Nigeria|newspaper=The Sun}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Nigeria squad 2000 Summer Olympics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Okoye, Sam}} Category:1980 births Category:2005 deaths Category:Footballers from Lagos Category:Nigerian men's footballers Category:Nigeria men's under-20 international footballers Category:Nigerian expatriate men's footballers Category:Rangers International F.C. players Category:Enyimba F.C. players Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Iran Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:21st-century Nigerian sportsmen
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