| Godwin Okpara | |
| Birth Date: | 1972 9, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Obaku, Imo, Nigeria |
| Height: | 1.76 m |
| Position: | Defender |
| Years1: | 1989 |
| Clubs1: | Obanta United |
| Years2: | 1989–1991 |
| Clubs2: | K. Beerschot V.A.C. |
| Caps2: | 21 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 1991–1996 |
| Clubs3: | Eendracht Aalst |
| Caps3: | 88 |
| Goals3: | 5 |
| Years4: | 1996–1999 |
| Clubs4: | Strasbourg |
| Caps4: | 96 |
| Goals4: | 6 |
| Years5: | 1999–2001 |
| Clubs5: | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Caps5: | 19 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2001–2004 |
| Clubs6: | Standard Liège |
| Caps6: | 67 |
| Goals6: | 1 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2000 |
| Nationalteam1: | Nigeria Olympic (O.P.) |
| Nationalcaps1: | 4 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 1991–2001 |
| Nationalteam2: | Nigeria |
| Nationalcaps2: | 18 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
Godwin Okpara was born on 20 September 1972 in Obaku, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. He is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a defender. He was part of the Nigeria national team squads that participated in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, 2000 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Okpara was outstanding[1] at the 1989 U-17 World Championship,in Scotland. His impressive skills caught the attention of Pelé, who hailed him as a future world-class player, praising his football skill. The Imo State-born defender, after playing for AGIP FC of Lagos and Obanta United began his foreign professional stint in Belgium in 1989 with Beerschot.[2] After some years of relative success playing for Eendracht Aalst, including winning the Belgian Ebony Shoe, he moved to play in France for RC Strasbourg and Paris Saint-Germain. While at Strasbourg he won the Coupe de la Ligue in 1997, playing in the final.[3] His second season with PSG was miserable,[4] making him return to Belgium and Standard Liège. Okpara retired after the 2003–04 season.
In August 2005, Okpara was arrested by French police on charges of raping his 13-year-old adopted daughter, Awawu Tina.[5] He was found guilty and imprisoned in June 2007 for thirteen years, but his sentence was reduced to seven years due a successful appeal. His wife, Linda Okpara, was sentenced to 15 years in jail for torture of the same girl.[6] [7] In November 2017, he was arraigned in an Ikeja Magistrate Court for allegedly battering his wife of 25 years.