Christian Chukwu, former captain and head coach of the Super Eagles, has passed away at the age of 74.
The Nigerian football legend died in the early hours of Saturday in his home state of Enugu.
The exact cause of his death remains unknown at the time of this report.
Chukwu’s death was confirmed by his longtime friend and former teammate, Dr. Olusegun Odegbami, who shared the news via his official X handle.
Odegbami, who played alongside Chukwu in Nigeria’s victorious 1980 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign, wrote: “My Chairman has passed on. This morning, ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu, MFR, my bosom friend and teammate, one of the greatest football players in Nigeria’s history, former captain and coach of the national team, has passed on.”
Born on January 4, 1951, Chukwu captained Nigeria’s national team, then known as the Green Eagles, from 1974 to 1980.
Under his leadership, Nigeria won its first-ever AFCON title in 1980 and finished as runners-up in the 1976 and 1978 editions.At the club level, Chukwu led Enugu Rangers FC to continental glory, winning the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977.
He later coached the team and was eventually appointed its General Manager and CEO by former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Chukwu also played pivotal roles in coaching Nigeria’s national teams. He served as assistant coach for the Golden Eaglets, who won Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup title at the U16 level in China in 1985. He was also part of the coaching crew of the famed 1994 Super Eagles squad—Nigeria’s first team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
In 1998, Chukwu briefly coached the Kenyan national team. He later returned to helm the Super Eagles from 2003 to 2005, guiding them to a third-place finish at the 2004 AFCON in Tunisia.
His tenure ended in June 2005 during the qualifiers for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
In recognition of his service to Nigerian sports, Chukwu was honored with the national award of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR).
In 2019, Chukwu battled prostate cancer, which affected his leg. A public fundraiser was launched to support his medical treatment. Nigerian businessman Femi Otedola donated $50,000 toward his treatment in the United Kingdom.
The donation was presented by Philip Akinola, COO of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, in the presence of former Governor Ugwuanyi, former NFF Chairman Amaju Pinnick, and veteran journalist Onochie Anibeze.
With initial support from the Enugu State Government, Chukwu underwent surgery in Nigeria and was reported to have recovered at the time.
