The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Christian Chukwu, who captained Nigeria’s 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad and later coached the team.
His longtime teammate and friend, Olusegun Odegbami, confirmed his death.
Odegbami, who won the 1980 Africa Nation Cup with Chukwu, said: “I just received the news that between 9:00 and 10:00 this morning, ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu, MFR, my bosom friend and teammate, one of the greatest football players in Nigeria’s history, has passed on.
“Babuje, Emmanuel Okala, MON, gave me the sad news a few minutes ago. May ‘Onyim’ find peace with Our Creator in Heaven and console his family,” Odegbami said.
In reaction, the General Secretary of NFF, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said: “We have lost a good and great man. Chukwu was the definition of a strong, dedicated and disciplined leader on and off the field. He was not nicknamed ‘Chairman’ for nothing. He embodied strength, vision and consistency.
“We pray that the Almighty will grant his soul eternal rest, and also grant the family and friends he has left behind, and Nigeria football’s fraternity the fortitude to bear this big loss.”
Also, the Director-General of National Institute for Sports, Lagos, Prof. Olawale Moronkola expressed shock and sadness over the demise of Christian Chukwu.
Professor Moronkola described Chairman (as he was fondly called) Chukwu as one of Nigeria’s foremost player and coach, as a dependable defender and great footballer of repute who brought glory and honour to Nigeria.
He recalled that Chukwu was the national team captain when the Green Eagles first won the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in 1980.
Prof. Moronkola affirmed that one lesson is that, Chukwu was a product of grassroot, having been discovered while playing for the East Central State academicals.
The sports administrator further asserted that Christian Chukwu was a dedicated player who left an indelible mark in the sands of not only Nigerian football, but the whole of the African continent.
The DG commiserated with his family and the National Sports Commission.
Christian Chukwu death comes exactly 20 days after the 45th anniversary of the 1980 AFCON triumph. Before him, other members of the squad that had passed on, were goalkeepers Best Ogedegbe and Moses Effiong, defenders Okechukwu Isima and Tunde Bamidele, midfielders Aloysius Atugbu and Mudashiru Lawal, and forward Martins Eyo.
Born on January 4, 1951, Chukwu had an illustrious career with Rangers, captaining them to many laurels on the domestic football scene, and led the Flying Antelopes to continental glory by winning the now rested African Cup Winners Cup in 1977.
He was the first Nigerian captain to lift the African Nations Cup trophy after a 3–0 victory over Algeria in the final of the 1980 tournament in Lagos.
He assisted Dutch coach Clemens Westerhof when Nigeria won a second AFCON title in 1994 en route the country’s maiden appearance at the 1994 USA World Cup.
Better known by the nickname “Chairman”, Chukwu was the coach of the Super Eagles from 2002 and 2005, leading Nigeria to a bronze medal finish in Tunisia 2004 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).