Nigeria has lost one of its football greats, Christian Chukwu, a former Super Eagles captain and head coach.
He passed away on Saturday at the age of 74.
While details surrounding his death are still emerging, the news was confirmed by his longtime friend and former teammate, Dr. Olusegun Odegbami, who shared the development on social media platform X.
“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,” Odegbami wrote.
“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.”
Chukwu, fondly called “Chairman,” was a legendary figure in Nigerian football.
He captained the national team to its historic first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 1980.
He would later return to the Super Eagles as head coach in the early 2000s.
A proud son of Enugu, Chukwu also made his mark at the club level, leading Enugu Rangers to victory in the 1977 Africa Cup Winners Cup—an achievement still etched in Nigeria’s football history.
Tributes are already pouring in for the iconic defender, who played a crucial role in shaping Nigeria’s football legacy, both on the pitch and from the dugout.
