Ernest Okonkwo - Nigeria

Around the time Joe Lartey was in power in Ghana, Nigerian Ernest Okonkwo (?- 1990) was also becoming increasingly popular in his homeland. Okonkwo is often regarded as the disruptor of Nigerian football commentators. However, for someone whose generous expertise came up with amusing nicknames for his contemporaries' footballers, being tagged 'doyen' was hardly taken seriously. 'Math', 'Block Buster', 'Chairman', 'Man Mountain' and 'Chief Justice' are just a few of the flattering nicknames Okonkwo gave to Nigerian national stars of the time, namely Segun Odegbami, Aloysius Atuegbu, Christian, Chukwu, Emmanuel Okala and Adokie Amasimeka respectively. To his credit, Okonkwo never considered his work a perfunctory task. At times, he speaks out in his opinion about poor performances and on-field behavior that he considers unprofessional. Just last year, Babatunde Fashola, governor of the Nigerian state of Lagos, decided to name the Teslim Balogun Stadium Press Gallery after Okonkwo and Ishola Folorusho, another Nigerian ace commentator.

Born: (?- 1990)

Place of birth: Nigeria