Meet Kogites”Emmanuel Okala and his late younger brother, Patrick Okala are among Nigeria’s and Africa’s greatest goalkeepers of all times.
They both hail from Idah, present day Kogi state.
Both brothers were at various times in goal for the Nigerian national team in the 80s and 90s.
It would be recalled that Emmanuel is prided as Nigeria’s first “African Footballer of the Year’’ after inspiring Enugu Rangers to win 1977 African Winners Cup now CAF Confederations Cup before helping Nigeria to win the 1980 African Cup of Nations putting his name forever in the history of Nigerian football because all were “firsts’’.
Emmanuel is a holder of Order of Nigeria. The 68-year-old 6 feet inches nicknamed “Iroko” will always remain much loved and a darling of the fans who stood in applause despite 33 years after he last played for Nigeria.
