IMMEMORIAL
Flashback: Eye witness account with PHOTOS: How Okwaraji, five fans died on this day 35 years ago
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
This is day after the Olympics, one that must be easily forgotten, at least by expectedly disappointed Nigerians, Sadly too, the day marks the 35th anniversary of the most celebrated on-field death in Nigerian football.
The August 12, 1989 Italia ’90 World Cup qualifying match with Angola could had just been another match day. But it is now ever recalled, not for the result, which was favourable to Nigeria at least in the short run, but for the bizarre happenings.
It was just a day to the 10th anniversary of a previous disaster that claimed 24 lives at the National Stadium, Lagos.
Nigeria desperately needed to win the tie against Angola to be in contention of leading a World Cup qualifying group that also had Gabon and Cameroon.
The result of the penultimate match in Gabon which Nigeria against form books had lost 1-2 made the August 12, 1989 match the more important.
Besides, it was to be the first match after a long closure of the National Stadium, Lagos which was undergoing upgrading for an anticipated hosting of the then World Youth Championship (now u-20 World Cup) in 1991.
Nigeria had had to play their home matches at the low-capacity Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan until the National Stadium, Lagos was reopened.
Expectedly, the stadium was jam-packed for a teeming crowd that appeared to have been starved for close to two years that the stadium had been closed for refurbishment.
The crowd thronged the 40,000 capacity stadium, filling it nearly 20,000 over. About 4,000 others were stranded outside, making rounds to the 12 ramps leading into the main- bowl.
Announcements blared from the public address system directing the crowd outside to gates D, E and F leading to the southern pavilion at the Lagos end of the field. Gates had been opened nearly seven hours to kick off.
The spectators’ stands were overfilled, resulting in jostling and pushing, chokes, suffocation, exhaustion, and soon, deaths! Moments before kick-off, some of the spectators around the covered terraces began to faint in ones and twos.
Few people might have noticed the unusual incident of an ambulance moving on the just refurbished tartan tracks to convey the fainted fans after efforts at reviving them by medical personnel had failed.
One after the other, fans fainted and died
Then another ambulance came again. Ambulance movements became a common sight. The stadium’s clinic with only three beds became jam-packed with unconscious people.
It turned a gory site as more and more fans collapsed …
Medical personnel said there were so many of them and they had to be treated on the bare floor. Fifteen of them had to be taken to the General Hospital in Lagos.
One Mutiu Salami, a 14-year old victim who was rushed to the General Hospital and regained consciousness three days later narrated his experience: “As the match drew to an end, everybody was rushing. They rushed me and I fell down. The next thing I knew was finding myself at the hospital”.
He was lucky. It was more disastrous for others. Five of them died. Niyi Mosuro, a 15- year-old schoolboy from Ijebu-Ode was one of the victims identified. August 12, 1989, was the first time he would watch a football match at the National Stadium.
It was the last day he lived. Wale Mosuro, his uncle, said Niyi was not quite a football enthusiast. His body was discovered in the morgue. Others identified were bodies of Shehu Tijani and Okorie Agwu.
Nduka Irabor, then the Chief Press Secretary to the Chief of General Staff ( Vice President in the current situation) was on hand to offer helping hands to the dying
Everything went awry that sunny August 12, 1989. Sad incidents that would catch worldwide attention were unfolding. From the sidelines, five football fans were suffocated to death. Football, a national passion, overnight turned a national horror.
The standard of soccer in the Nigeria-Angola match fell below expectation even though both teams paraded a pack of tested professionals. Tackling was rough. Each side lost a penalty kick. Austin Eguavoen lost that of Nigeria.
Journey to the morgue begins for the dead
But the biggest disaster of the day was imminent. As the drab match progressed, an Angolan player slumped.
Medical personnel rushed to administer treatment. It was barely 10 minutes to the end of the match. As attention focussed on the injured player, and while some fans that had fainted by the sidelines were being attended to, the unexpected happened.
Last card! The yellow card by the Togolese referee, Hounnake-Koussai may have been a warning to Okwaraji that the end was imminent.
Dreadlocks haired Samuel Okwaraji, the Nigerian bubbling mid-field maestro, collapsed and fell face down. Few people would have thought it was mere exhaustion.
The nearest player to Samuel Okwaraji, Samson Siasia, rushed to the prostrate form and tried him to face up. What he saw was frightening as he put his hands on his head in despair.
“The way I saw him, he was gasping and foaming. His teeth were gritty… No one could easily ascertain the cause of his death. It still remains a mystery.
By Kunle Solaja.
Sixty-eight years on, football, this Friday, paused again to remember the Munich Air Disaster, the catastrophe that ripped through Manchester United and stunned the sporting world on February 6, 1958.
The tragedy claimed 23 lives when Manchester United’s aircraft crashed on take-off at Munich-Riem Airport following a refuelling stop on the journey home from a European Cup tie against Red Star Belgrade.
Manchester United squad before the 1958 crash.
Among the dead were eight players from United’s celebrated Busby Babes side, alongside club officials, journalists and members of the flight crew.
Those killed included club captain Roger Byrne and the immensely gifted Duncan Edwards, widely tipped to become one of both United’s and England’s greatest-ever players. Also lost were Mark Jones, Tommy Taylor, Eddie Colman, Liam Whelan, David Pegg and Geoff Bent.
In all, the disaster took the lives of 11 members of the United travelling party, eight journalists, the co-pilot and several others connected to the flight.
Yet from the wreckage also emerged stories of survival and resilience. Manager Matt Busby, badly injured in the crash, would go on to rebuild United into European champions a decade later.
Bobby Charlton, who survived with relatively minor injuries, became the club’s record scorer for many years and a World Cup winner with England. Bill Foulkes, Harry Gregg, Albert Scanlon and Dennis Viollet also resumed distinguished careers.
For two survivors, however, the crash marked the end of their playing days.
Jackie Blanchflower was just 25 when the plane crashed on the snow-covered runway. The Northern Ireland international, younger brother of Tottenham Hotspur great Danny Blanchflower, had already won two league titles with United and made 117 appearances for the club. Renowned for his versatility, he had played in defence, midfield and even in goal during his career.
Despite early hope that he might recover, Blanchflower’s injuries — including a fractured pelvis, multiple broken limbs and severe internal damage — proved career-ending. He was forced into early retirement and later rebuilt his life away from football, eventually finding success as a businessman and popular after-dinner speaker. He died of cancer in 1998.
Johnny Berry, United’s flying right winger and the club’s original wearer of the famous number seven shirt, also survived the crash but never played again. Signed from Birmingham City in 1951, Berry made 276 appearances and scored 45 goals, helping United to the league title in his first season.
Severe head injuries sustained in Munich ended his career at the age of 31. Berry later returned to his hometown of Aldershot to run a sportswear business and became the first surviving United player from the crash to pass away, dying in 1994 at the age of 68.
Those lost and those who lived on
The victims of the crash included United secretary Walter Crickmer and coaches Bert Whalley and Tom Curry, as well as eight journalists covering the team’s European adventure. The co-pilot Kenneth Rayment, a steward, a supporter and a travel agent were also among the dead.
Of the nine United players who survived, Bobby Charlton lived the longest, passing away in October 2023 at the age of 86. Goalkeeper Harry Gregg, whose heroics in rescuing survivors earned lasting admiration, died in 2022 aged 87.
Each year, the anniversary of Munich remains deeply embedded in the identity of Manchester United, serving as a reminder not only of loss but of the resilience that shaped the club’s history. Sixty-eight years on, the names of those who died — and those whose careers and lives were forever changed — continue to be remembered as an inseparable part of football’s collective memory.
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Manchester United will this Friday, February 6, 2026, mark the 68th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster this Friday, February 6, 2026. The darkest day in the club’s history, which claimed 23 lives, including eight players and three officials.
The tragedy occurred in 1958 as United were returning from a European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade. After stopping to refuel in Munich, the aircraft crashed shortly after take-off, devastating the club and the wider football community.
Each year, the disaster remains central to United’s identity and heritage, with thousands of supporters gathering at memorial services in Manchester and Munich to honour those who lost their lives and those who were injured.
Old Trafford and Munich services
United will host a remembrance service at Old Trafford from 14:45 to 15:15 GMT, with supporters invited to gather under the Munich Clock in the East Stand. The service will be led by Reverend John Boyers and will include a roll of honour, poems and readings delivered by journalist and supporter Andy Mitten, representatives of the Manchester United Foundation, Under-13 Academy teams, and club legend Sammy McIlroy. Senior club officials will lay wreaths in tribute.
Following the ceremony, supporters will be welcomed into the International Suite at the Stretford End to view memorabilia from 1958 and the Busby Babes, courtesy of the Manchester United Museum, and to share memories over refreshments.
At the same time, representatives of the Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation will lead a parallel service at the Manchesterplatz Memorial in Munich. United’s director of fan engagement, Rick McGagh and former goalkeeper Alex Stepney will attend alongside travelling supporters, residents and fan groups. Wreaths will be laid at the crash site, followed by a two-minute silence. The Munich service will be streamed live and free on MUTV.
Matchday tributes
Tributes will continue at United’s Premier League home fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, February 7. Supporters are invited to a 30-minute memorial service under the Munich Clock at 10:30 GMT, featuring a minute’s silence, roll of honour and readings involving Academy teams and Foundation representatives.
Flags will fly at half-mast, the team will lay a wreath and families of the Busby Babes will attend the match. Fans have been asked to be in their seats 15 minutes before kick-off for the playing of The Flowers of Manchester. Supporter group The Red Army will also unfurl the “We’ll Never Die” banner across the Lower Stretford End.
United Women will also pay tribute at their home match against Liverpool on February 1, the closest fixture to the anniversary. Players will wear black armbands, a wreath will be laid, and Munich flags will be displayed in the North Stand.
Carrick: Players must understand the history
United manager Michael Carrick said his players must understand the significance of the Munich Air Disaster as the club marked the anniversary.
“As soon as you come to this club, you’re made aware. You can’t help but know and understand the history,” Carrick said at Thursday’s press conference. “It’s a responsibility when you work here that you understand what’s come before us. Munich is probably the biggest part of the history of this club — how the team and the football club bounced back and went on to success.”
The match against Spurs was moved forward a day to avoid clashing with Friday’s memorial service. Carrick, enjoying a strong run of results, said United were continuing to grow despite a lighter fixture list this season.
On Tottenham, he added, “They have really good attackers who stretch the backline and attack the box a lot. It’s a slightly different game to what we’ve played in recent weeks.”
Patrick Dorgu remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Matthijs de Ligt and Mason Mount are close to returning.
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank confirmed that outspoken social media comments by captain Cristian Romero regarding the club’s transfer policy had been “dealt with internally”.
“Cuti is very passionate and ambitious. Sometimes there can be an outburst, which happened this time. It’s something we’ve dealt with,” Frank said.
United head into the weekend fourth in the Premier League, while Tottenham sit 14th. With Arsenal and Manchester City leading the table, the battle for Champions League qualification is tightening, with just seven points separating third place from sixth.
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The global football community on Monday marked the third anniversary of the passing of Brazilian football icon Pelé, widely regarded as the greatest player the game has ever known.
Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, died on 29 December 2022 at the age of 82 after a prolonged battle with illness, drawing an outpouring of grief and tributes that spanned continents, cultures and generations.
Three years on, his legacy remains undimmed. The only footballer to win the FIFA World Cup three times (1958, 1962 and 1970), Pelé redefined excellence on the pitch, combining athleticism, skill, creativity and an instinctive understanding of the game that set new standards for greatness.
From his formative years at Santos, where he became a teenage sensation, to his role in popularising football in the United States with the New York Cosmos, Pelé transcended club and country. He scored more than 1,000 career goals in official and unofficial matches, a milestone that became synonymous with his name and myth.
Beyond statistics, Pelé was football’s first true global superstar. He turned matches into spectacles, inspired millions of young players, and helped project football as a universal language capable of bridging race, politics and geography. His influence extended into diplomacy and humanitarian work, where he served as a global ambassador for sport, peace and social causes.
On this third anniversary, clubs, federations, former players and fans across the world have once again paid tribute, sharing memories, archival footage and messages celebrating a life that shaped the modern game. Stadiums, museums and public spaces in Brazil and beyond continue to honour him as O Rei — The King.
Though Pelé is no longer physically present, his spirit endures every time a child dreams with a ball at their feet, every time a goal is celebrated with joy and imagination, and every time football reminds the world of its power to inspire.
Three years after his passing, Pelé remains eternal — not just in memory, but in the very soul of the beautiful game.
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