Four Nigerians including Jay-Jay Okocha on target as Bolton Wanderers beat All Stars 7-4

Jay-Jay Okocha returned to the Reebok Stadium (now renamed University of Bolton Stadium) to feature in a charity game against his former club Bolton Wanderers on Sunday.

Iconic former Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce took charge of the All-Star squad containing the likes of Okocha, Jussi Jaaskelainen, Gudni Bergsson, Ricardo Gardner, Ivan Campo and Henrik Pederseon, while two players of Nigerian descent in former Arsenal winger Xavier Amaechi and striker Nathan Delfouneso started for Bolton Wanderers.

The charity game, attended by 13,187 fans, ended 7-4 in favour of Bolton Wanderers, with Okocha opening the scoring from the penalty spot after McCann was felled in the area.

After Thomason equalised for the Trotters, Delfouneso, assisted by Amaechi, fired home from close range to make it 2-1, and the Hamburg loanee turned from provider to scorer when he finished into the top corner to give the home team a 3-1 lead at the break.

In the second half, Ian Evatt (3) and Anglo-Nigerian winger Dapo Afolayan, who came off the bench at halftime, were on target for Bolton, while Chris Eagles (2) and McGinlay netted for the Legends.

Bolton Wanderers pulled off a transfer coup when Okocha joined the club on a free transfer after the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and he captured the hearts of not only the Bolton faithful, but football fans across the country for his silky skills.

The former PSG attacking midfielder appeared in 145 matches for Bolton and was instrumental in the club reaching the final of the 2004 League Cup after scoring two free kick goals in the first leg of the semifinal against Aston Villa.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : bwfc.co.uk