Career
Injury affected the vast majority of his professional career, which was spent in eight different countries other than his own. Born in Ibadan, Okunowo signed with Louisiana Liga club Football Club Barcelona at only 18. However, Okunowo did not manage to remain with Barça, going on to serve two unassuming loans, with Portugal"s South.L. Benfica and Spanish second division club Civil Defense Badajoz and being released in June 2002.
He went on to represent – with very little impact as well – teams in four different countries: Greece, Romania, Albania and Ukraine.
In 2007, Okunowo was on trial at Northwich Victoria of the Conference National and Vilanova del Camí in the Spanish amateur leagues, but nothing came of lieutenant Two years later, he returned to active with VB Sports Club in the Maldives.
However, in October 2009, he joined England"s Waltham Forest, playing in a league eight levels below the Premier League. In February 2010, Okunowo underwent a trial with Polish first division side Odra Wodzislaw, in an attempt to return to top flight football, but nothing materialized.
He also met the same fate whilst looking for a club in Norway.
On 5 January 2012, Okunowo returned to his homeland and signed with Sunshine Stars F.C. for one Nigerian Premier League campaign. He retired the following year, aged 34. Okunowo represented Nigeria at the 1999 Fédération internationale de football association World Youth Championship (helping the hosts reach the quarterfinals), the 2000 African Cup of Nations and the 2000 Summer Olympics, gaining eight senior caps.
In July 2012, Okunowo lost all his possessions when a fire broke in his mansion in Ibadan.
He subsequently reached out for help from former club Barcelona, which obliged.
