Former Super Eagles captain, Christian Chukwu died on Saturday at the age of 74.
The cause of Chukwu’s death is unknown as at the time of filing this report, but another Super Eagles legend, Segun Odegbami confirmed the news on Saturday afternoon.
Odegbami wrote on Facebook: “My Chairman has passed on. 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. 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.
In 2019, Chukwu suffered prostate cancer, which affected his leg. The family opened a GoFundMe appeal to solicit funds for the Nigeria football legend’s medical treatment.
Chukwu enjoyed a glittering career for club and country both as a player and as a coach.
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.
As a player, Chukwu captained the Nigerian national team, then known as the Green Eagles between 1974 and 1980.
He led Enugu Rangers to Continental glory by winning the African Cup Winners Cup in 1977. He also won many laurels for the club as a captain.
He was in the Nigerian squads that won the Africa Nations’ Cup in 1980 and finished runners’ up in 1976 and 1978.
He also assisted Dutch coach Clemens Westerhof when Nigeria won a second AFCON title in 1994.
In 1998, Chukwu was appointed as the coach of Kenya. From 2003-2005 he coached the Super Eagles team, leading them to reach the semifinals at the 2004 African Cup of Nations.
Chukwu led Enugu Rangers to 6th place in the 2008–2009 edition of the Nigeria Premier League.
