Late Ibiam…during his active days
Late Ibiam…during a press interview later in life
Nigeria’s first national team goalkeeper, Samuel Ibiam, has died at the age of 91.
According to the Ibiam family sources, the death occurred in the early hours of Wednesday at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia, Abia State.
The pioneer Nigerian goal tender who hailed from Unwana, Ebonyi State, was a star feature of the the country’s national football over a span of three decades, fifteen years of which was with the national team.
Ibiam’s started playing football at the Church of Scotland Mission School (CMS) Unwana from where he proceeded to Hope Waddel Institute, Calabar.
He was the goalkeeper of the team of 18 Nigerian footballers who embarked on a tour of England in August 1949. The team which was the first to represent the then British colony at the national level and competed with notable English teams like Liverpool FC, became the Green Eagles after the nation’s Independence. Ibiam last featured for Nigeria in 1962.
His contemporaries included Teslim Thunder Balogun, Dan Anyiam, Skipper Ewa Henshaw.
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