GTI Asset Management & Trust Limited, strategic partners of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), have expressed deep sorrow over the death of Mr. Norbert Okolie, Director of Media and Communications at Rangers International Football Club of Enugu.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Monday, Andrew Ekejiuba, GTI’s Head of Media and Publicity, said the organisation received the news of Okolie’s passing with “deep shock,” describing him as a dedicated professional whose contributions significantly enhanced media coverage of Nigeria’s elite league.

“GTI Group received with shock the passing of one of the outstanding Media Directors of NPFL clubs, Norbert Okolie, who, according to the management of Enugu Rangers, died over the weekend after a brief illness,” the statement read.

Ekejiuba noted that Okolie’s death had created a “huge vacuum” in the football community, praising his commitment to elevating the quality of media content produced for both Rangers International and the NPFL.

“Okolie, who was once the Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), carried out his duties with dedication, professionalism, and great passion. He will be greatly missed by his friends, colleagues, and the entire Rangers and NPFL families,” he added.

GTI extended condolences to Okolie’s immediate family, the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Enugu Rangers, and the NPFL Media Directors Association. Ekejiuba also called on football fans across the country to keep the bereaved family in their prayers during this difficult period.

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The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has refuted widespread reports alleging that a player, Abraham Nana of Barau FC, had his throat slit during the Matchday 12 fixture against Katsina United at the Muhammad Dikko Stadium, Katsina.

In a statement released on Saturday, the NPFL described the report as “utterly false,” clarifying that the Barau FC player was struck by an object thrown from the stands but did not suffer any life-threatening injuries.

“The player was hurt by an object hauled from the stands and was treated on the pitch, which led to the match being halted for a few minutes,” the NPFL explained.

The League body stated that it operates an active Situation Room connected to all Match Commissioners, ensuring real-time monitoring and coordination to guarantee hitch-free matches. “The NPFL Office maintains an active Situation Room with all Match Commissioners, and through this medium, we monitor and direct affairs to ensure smooth operations,” the statement read.

According to the NPFL, it remained in constant communication with the Match Commissioner and officials of both teams throughout the incident to obtain firsthand information on the situation.

Following its review of official reports from the match officials, including the referee and Match Commissioner, the NPFL confirmed that Katsina United had been sanctioned for established breaches of league regulations.

While the nature of the sanctions was not specified, the NPFL reiterated its commitment to enforcing discipline and maintaining a secure environment for all matches.

“The NPFL will continue to uphold the rules to ensure fair competition and an exciting League under a safe atmosphere. The public is once again reassured of safety at our matches through control measures put in place,” the statement concluded.

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By Kunle Solaja

It is a rare moment in football when one date carries two milestones in a player’s career. Yet, for Segun Odegbami, Nigeria’s iconic right winger fondly known as Mathematical, October 30 stands as a day of double remembrance — the day he scored his first international goal and, exactly five years later, played his last match for Nigeria.

This Thursday, October 30, marks 49 years since his first goal and 44 years since his final cap, both coincidentally achieved in FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The Birth of a Star – October 30, 1976

It was at the National Stadium in Lagos on October 30, 1976, that Odegbami first etched his name into Nigeria’s football history.

The Green Eagles, as the now Super Eagles were known,  thrashed Sierra Leone 6–2, with the then 24-year-old Odegbami scoring the opening goal — the first of his 21 goals in 43 appearances for Nigeria.

He was not just a scorer that day; he created two more goals in the match that also marked the international farewell of his IICC Shooting Stars teammate and Africa’s then-best left winger, Kunle Awesu.

That performance sealed Odegbami’s place as Nigeria’s undisputed lead striker — a role he held with distinction for the next five years. From that moment on, he was never invited to camp without earning a place in the starting lineup.

The Curtain Falls – October 30, 1981

Ironically, it was on the same date — October 30, 1981 — that Odegbami played his last international match. Nigeria faced Algeria in Constantine in a World Cup qualifier. Though the encounter ended in disappointment, it symbolically closed a golden chapter for one of the most elegant footballers Africa ever produced.

With 21 goals in 43 matches, Odegbami remains one of Nigeria’s most efficient scorers, boasting a strike rate surpassed by Rashidi Yekini, who netted 37 goals in 60 appearances, Victor Osimhen whose goal tally for Nigeria has risen to 29 in 43 matches.

Dreams Deferred

Despite his brilliance, Odegbami’s international career was shadowed by near misses on the global stage.

He played just 45 minutes at the 1980 Olympic Games against eventual champions, Czechoslovakia before being substituted.

Earlier, he missed the 1976 Montreal Olympics after Nigeria joined the African boycott over apartheid South Africa — a tragic turn for a squad many believed was good enough for a medal.

Two World Cup heartbreaks followed: the infamous 1977 own goal by Godwin Odiye that cost Nigeria a ticket to Argentina ’78, and the failed bid to reach Spain ’82, which ended Odegbami’s international journey.

Mr. Mathematical

The legendary commentator Ernest Okonkwo gave him the nickname Mathematical — a tribute to his precision, timing, and balance on the right flank.

Standing at 1.8 metres, Odegbami was not built like the typical striker of his era. Early critics called him “the sluggish striker,” yet his deceptive pace and clinical delivery made him the nightmare of defenders across Africa.

A graduate of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Odegbami started at Housing Corporation FC before joining IICC Shooting Stars in 1974.

He first played as an inside-left behind Moses Otolorin before being transformed into a blistering right winger — a tactical switch that defined his greatness.

The Turning Point

Odegbami himself often points to that 1976 match against Sierra Leone as the defining moment.

Brought on as a substitute for Baba Otu Mohammed in the first leg in Freetown, he impressed coach Father Tiko, who experimented with him on the rightwing during training.

“Coach Tiko asked me to practice running down the flank and cutting inside toward goal,” Odegbami once recalled. “It worked perfectly in the return leg — and that was how I became a right winger.”

He didn’t just score Nigeria’s opener that day; his crosses created goals for Aloysius Atuegbu and Kelechi Emeteole, heralding the birth of a new attacking era.

Memorable Goals and Matches

Of his 21 goals for Nigeria, Odegbami fondly recalls his equalizer in Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire, during a 1977 World Cup qualifier as his best.

Nigeria came from two goals down to draw 2–2 — a match that showcased his courage and flair.

At club level, he treasures his 1984 African Champions Cup goal against Maghreb Fez of Morocco, a crucial strike that helped Shooting Stars advance 5–2 on aggregate.

There were other unforgettable moments — like the 1977 Challenge Cup final against Raccah Rovers, played on a Sunday morning to beat CAF’s registration deadline.

Odegbami’s goal secured a 1–0 win before chaos erupted, with fans mobbing him and tearing his jersey in jubilation.

Beyond the Pitch

Even at 73, the man from Abeokuta remains a vibrant voice in Nigerian football. His insights on technical, administrative, and political issues in the game are as sharp as his dribbles once were.

 Though his attempts to move from the pitch to the boardroom — like Platini and Beckenbauer — haven’t materialized fully, his influence on the sport endures.

Slim, athletic, and still exuding charisma, Odegbami has aged gracefully. His clean-shaven head may hint at time’s passage, but his spirit remains undimmed — the same Mathematical who once danced past defenders with elegant precision.

A Legend’s Legacy

Segun Odegbami’s story is not just one of goals and glory, but of intellect, discipline, and enduring relevance. From his first strike in 1976 to his farewell in 1981, he embodied the beauty of football — skill balanced with thought, artistry guided by purpose.

Forty-eight years on, as Nigeria celebrates his double anniversary, Mr. Mathematical remains a timeless figure — the man who calculated his runs, measured his crosses, and defined an era of Nigerian football that will never be forgotten.

Odegbami’s 21 goals for Nigeria

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