A former Super Eagles captain and head coach, Christian Chukwu has died at 74.
Segun Odegbami, a former teammate and close friend, confirmed Chukwu’s death on Saturday.
“I just received the news that between 9:00 and 10:00 this morning, ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu, MFR, my bosom friend and team mate, one of the greatest football players in Nigeria’s football history, former captain and coach of Nigeria’s national football team, has passed on,” Odegbami wrote in a WhatsApp broadcast.
“Babuje, Emmanuel Okala, MON, gave me the sad news a few minutes ago.”
The cause of Chukwu’s death remains undisclosed.
In 2019, Chukwu suffered prostate cancer, which affected his leg. The family had to open a GoFundMe appeal to solicit funds for the Nigerian football legend’s medical treatment.
Femi Otedola, the billionaire businessman, eventually paid $50,000 for Chukwu’s treatment overseas.
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Chukwu is regarded as one of Nigeria’s greatest centre-backs and captains. He was captain when the Super Eagles won their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 1994 on home soil. He was also named the player of the tournament.
He played for one club, Enugu Rangers, and led the club to the 1977 Africa Cup Winners Cup.
Chukwu was head coach of the Eagles between 2002 and 2005.
He led the team to a bronze medal at Tunisia’s 2004 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The manager was relieved of the job in June 2005 during the qualification campaign for the World Cup in Germany.
Chukwu also served as assistant coach of the first team to win a FIFA World Cup trophy for Nigeria – the Golden Eaglets that triumphed at the FIFA U16 World Cup in China in 1985.
