Christian Chukwu’s Death: Sports World Mourn Ex-Super Eagles, Kenya’s Coach

The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed deep sorrow following the death of former Super Eagles captain and head coach, Christian Chukwu.

Chukwu, who captained Nigeria’s 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad, died in his hometown of Enugu on Saturday at the age of 74.

In a statement on Saturday, the NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, described Chukwu as a towering figure in Nigerian football.

Sanusi stated that the former Enugu Rangers coach was the definition of a strong, dedicated, and disciplined leader on and off the field.

The statement reads, “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 his family, friends, and the Nigerian football fraternity the fortitude to bear this great loss.”

Also, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, has described Chukwu’s death as a sad development.

Reacting to the sad news on Saturday, Dikko said, “This news came to me as a big shock. Chairman is no more. On behalf of the Commission, the entire sporting fraternity, and indeed the Federal Government of Nigeria, I extend my condolences to his family and to the whole nation. Frankly, a big iroko tree has fallen. We are the chairmen leading the sector, but Christian Chukwu was the original Chairman on the pitch.

“He was so commanding and charismatic, decisive and assuring on the pitch, that the late Ernest Okonkwo called him ‘Chairman’—and to this day, that name is even more popular than his given name.

“Chairman Chukwu is synonymous with Nigerian football. He lifted our first major trophy at the 1980 AFCON. Growing up, that day stands out. Many of us draw our passion for Nigerian football from that tournament. Chairman was the main catalyst of that feat, motivating and leading the team from the foundation to success.

“As a player, coach, or administrator, Chairman stamped his feet in the annals of Nigerian football. I had a very good working relationship with him for decades, and we had been in constant touch.”

“I just had a meeting with Dr. Segun Odegbami earlier this week. This is happening at a time when we need the experience and drive of the likes of Chairman to push through our vision at the Commission. This is a very gloomy day for Nigerian football.

“One thing that stands out is the Chairman’s passion for Nigerian football, along with his humility and peaceful nature throughout his life. Even in his latter days, he was a regular commentator on the state of Nigerian football. He was one of the legends whose views I always looked forward to reading. We will do everything within our means to immortalise him and ensure that his dream for Nigerian football is sustained,” he added.

Nicknamed ‘Chairman’ for his commanding presence and leadership qualities both at club level with Enugu Rangers and with the national team, Chukwu famously lifted the Unity Cup—the first major continental title for Nigeria—on Saturday, March 22, 1980, after receiving it from then-President Shehu Shagari at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

Chukwu was part of the Nigerian team that won bronze medals at the 1976 and 1978 AFCON finals held in Ethiopia and Ghana, respectively, before captaining the squad to glory on home soil in 1980. He was named Player of the Tournament.

Things To Know About Late Christian Chukwu

The former Super Eagles captain died in the early hours of Saturday in his home state of Enugu.

Below are the things to know about the football legend:

Christian Chukwu, born January 4, 1951, captained the Nigerian national team, then known as the Green Eagles, between 1974 and 1980.

The chairman, as he is fondly called, captained the national team to its first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980 and finished as a runner-up in 1976 and 1978.

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.

The Enugu-born legend also led the Enugu Rangers FC team that won the Africa Cup Winners Cup in 1977.

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.

He was also the assistant coach of the team tagged the Golden Generation, the 1994 class of Super Eagles that qualified Nigeria for its first FIFA World Cup finals.

In October 1998, he was appointed coach of the Kenya national team, and from 2003 to 2005, he coached Nigeria, leading them to reach the semifinals at the 2004 African Cup of Nations.

Chukwu captained the national team to its first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980 and later led the Super Eagles to a bronze medal at the 2004 AFCON in Tunisia.

He was, however, sacked in June 2005 during the qualification campaign for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Chukwu coached Enugu Rangers to 6th place in the 2008/2009 season of the Nigeria Premier League.

However, he was sacked on August 5, 2009, for failing to reach the club’s targets for the season.

In 2017, Chukwu was appointed Ranger’s General Manager and Chief Executive Officer by the immediate past Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Chukwu,  a prominent figure in Nigerian football, was a recipient of the national honour of the Member of the Federal Republic.

The former Super Eagles captain was rumoured to be dead in 2021 but later denied the rumours during his 70th birthday celebration on January 4, 2021.

Chukwu is survived by his wife, Lilian, and four children.