Julius OkorieLate Super Eagles Coach and Captain, Christain Chukwu, has been described as an epitome of dedication and discipline.
Secretary General of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Mohammed Sanusi, who made the submission revealed that Chukwu who was nicknamed “Chairman” was not so named for nothing but because he was a definition of strength, vision and consistency.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“We have lost a good and great man. Chukwu was a definition of strong, dedicated and disciplined leader on the field. He was not named Chairman for nothing, he was a definition of strength, vision and consistency,” said Sanusi.
He prayed for God to grant him a place in his bossom adding, “We pray the Almighty to grant him eternal rest and give his family he left behind and the Nigeria Football fraternity the fortitude to bear this big loss.”
Chukwu, who captainrd the Eagles to their first ever African Cup o Nations triumph in 1980, passed on in the early hours of Saturday, April 12, 2025 exactly 20 days after the 45th anniversary of the 1980 AFCON triumph. Before him, other members of the squad that had passed on, are goalkeepers Best Ogedegbe and Moses Effiong, defenders Okechukwu Isima and Tunde Bamidele, midfielders Aloysius Atugbu and Mudashiru Lawal, and forward Martins Eyo.
Earlier, Long-time teammate and friend, Mathematical Segun Odegbami, had expressed regret over the passing of the Chairman at the age of 74. Odegbami who was part of the victorious 1980 Nations Cup squad, revealed how he got the news with shock, describing him as one of the greatest players in Nigeria history. He wrote “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.
READ ALSO:Ex-Super Eagles Coach, Christian Chukwu, Dies At 74
“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 was among former Rangers players who were recently honoured as the team marked its 55th anniversary.
Facts About Chairman Christian Chukwu
*Christian Chukwu was born on January 4, 1951.
*He attended Christ Church Primary School, Uwani, National Secondary School Nike, and East Central State Academicals.
*He played for National Grammar School Nike and Highlanders FC (Ministry of Finance team).
*Chukwu 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 also led the Enugu Rangers FC team that won the Africa Cup Winners Cup in 1977.
*Chukwu was head coach of the Eagles between 2002 and 2005 and won a bronze medal at Tunisia’s 2004 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
*He 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.
*In October 1998, he was appointed coach of the Kenya national team.
*Chukwu coached Enugu Rangers to 6th place in the 2008/2009 season of the Nigeria Premier League.
*In 2023, his biography, “THE FIELD MARSHAL: Chairman Christian Chukwu”, was unveiled in Lagos.
*He was married with four children (two boys, two girls).
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
