Femi Opabunmi: Ex Super Eagles Star Opens Up on Going Blind While Playing Football, Video

• Femi Opabunmi has spoken about how he went blind while playing football in France
• The former Nigerian international visited three eye specialists before he retired
• The former Super Eagles star represented Nigeria at the 2002 FIFA World Cup

Former Super Eagles star Femi Opabunmi has shared the heartbreaking story of how he went blind while playing professional football.

The left-winger was part of the Nigeria squad that featured at the 2002 FIFA World Cup hosted by Korea and Japan.

He was tipped to be the next big name in Nigerian football when he burst onto the scene during the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship hosted by Trinidad and Tobago.

The former Super Eagles star left Nigeria after an impressive spell with Shooting Stars in 2001 and joined Swiss side Grasshopper where he stayed for four years.

He had a short spell with Israeli side Hapoel Be'er Sheva before moving to French second-division club Niort, where his eye issues started, according to Punch.

Eden Hazard: When John Obi Mikel Branded Former Chelsea Teammate As ‘Laziest Soccer Player’

Football

In an interview with Vanguard, the former Nigerian international narrated how he went blind and the steps he took the find a solution to the problem.

"When I was playing in the second division in France for Niort FC, I find [found] it difficult to see anything when I am in [was on] the field of play," he said.

"I went to Romania, UK, America to see eye specialists, and when they gave me the result, I came back to France to give it to my personal eye specialist.

"When he [the eye specialist] saw the result, he said my case is complicated, that I have to go for an operation, and if I don't I would be totally blind within 10 days.

"As a small boy, I was jittery, and I didn't have a choice I had to go for the operation. After the operation, I was blind for 17 days and couldn't see anything."

Jay Jay Okocha Clarifies His Stance on Preferring to Watch EPL Over NPFL, Video

Football

Opabunmi also opened up about why he came back to Nigeria after he couldn't find a solution to his eye problem.

"When I was told that my case it [is] complicated, despite undergoing [an] operation twice, I had to come back to Nigeria to seek for [a] solution," he added.

"When a white man tells you your case is complicated, you would know it's not medical, and you have to pray.

"Due to the issue, I quit the game when I was still active, which was a painful exit for me. I don't [didn't] like watching Nigeria's match's [back] then, because I feel [felt] bad when I see [saw] my mates still playing active football.

"My eye issue cost me a lot of money, but I thank God that I am still alive even when I went totally broke."

Seyi Law supports Opabunmi with cash

Sports Brief earlier reported that Famous Nigerian comedian Seyi Law sent some money to struggling former Super Eagles star Femi Opabunmi.

Concerned about Opabunmi’s whereabouts, Seyi Law took to Twitter to ask for the contact information of the former Shooting Stars left-winger and later handed him some money.