Football fame saved me from untimely death – Owolabi-Akinloye

By Tosin Omojola

Dr. Felix Owolabi-Akinloye, a former international footballer and member of Nigeria’s 1980 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) winning team, has shared a life-threatening experience in which his fame as a football star saved him from an attack by armed men.

In a recent exclusive interview during his 79th birthday celebrations, Owolabi-Akinloye, who is fondly known as “Owo Blow” by fans, recounted the terrifying incident.

The ex-player, who was a key member of the IICC Shooting Stars Football Club and the Nigerian national team, recalled traveling alone on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in the late 1970s when he encountered a gang of armed men near Guru Maharaji area.

According to Dr. Owolabi-Akinloye, the gunmen stopped his car and were preparing to attack when the leader of the group suddenly recognized him and shouted, “Owo Blow!” In a surprising twist, the gang refrained from harming him and instead escorted him to the Ibadan Toll Gate.

“The road was completely deserted, and I couldn’t help but realize that if not for my football fame, I might not have survived the encounter,” the former Green Eagles star said. “It was a surreal moment that made me thankful to God for saving me.”

Reflecting on this life-changing event, the septuagenarian expressed his deep gratitude to his Creator. He also described the 1980 AFCON victory as the pinnacle of his career.

“Winning Nigeria’s first AFCON trophy in 1980 was a milestone that I’ll never forget,” he said. “We were richly rewarded with money, cars, houses, and national honors, which was unprecedented for any Nigerian football team at the time.”

For Owolabi-Akinloye, this moment remains the happiest of his career, highlighting the incredible turn of events that shaped his life both on and off the pitch.