Late Uche Okafor’s final journey to the great beyond goes into full gear Thursday 17 as there will be a lying-in-state ceremony from 9.00 am at the Dan Anyiam stadium, Owerri.

•LAST DUTY: Late Uche Okafor (left) in one of his last matches in Nigerian colours . The match played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos featured USA '94 Eagles Vs The Rest of Africa.

According to the Imo state Director of Sports, Godwin Agbarakwe, Uche will also be honoured with a  novelty football match involving late Uche’s team mates in the then Super Eagles and Imo All Stars team.

The match has therefore, been planned for the Dan Anyiam Stadium, immediately after the lying-in-state ceremony.

Agbarakwe stressed the significance of the football match when he said, “It is important that we honour Uche with a football game. It was through football that Uche served his country best and brought happiness to a lot of Nigerians. It is only proper that he is rewarded with such an honour.”

Some of the ex-Eagles stars expected to feature in match include the likes of Ben Iroha, Mutiu Adepoju, Austin Eguavoen, Ike Shorunmu, Aloy Agwu, Emeka Ezeugo, among others. Monday Ibekwe, a former Spartans of Owerri star will lead the Imo All Stars team.

The body moves to Mbomiri village, near Owerri for interment after the novelty match.

Meanwhile, after due consultations, stake holders have rescinded the decision that all former colleagues of Uche should wear white to the funeral.

Spokesman for Uche’s colleagues, Ben Iroha said the decision was rescinded because Uche was still too young to wear white at his funeral. “it was observed that only old people who had spent their full lives that families honour them with white to signify a life well spent. Uche was just in his thirties.

We have now decided to wear black,” he said, appealing to sympathisers to ignore the earlier directive to wear white. “Now we have to be in black. Uche does not deserve less.”

Iroha also advised visitors to Owerri in connection to the late Uche’s burial to report at the All Seasons Hotel where arrangements have been made for expected guests.