Nigeria’s football community and political class continue to mourn the passing of former Super Eagles captain and coach, Christian Chukwu, who died in the early hours of Saturday at the Niger Foundation Hospital in Enugu at the age of 74. Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, expressed deep sorrow over the death of the football icon, describing him as “the image of grace, discipline, and dedication — both as a player and a coach.” In a heartfelt tribute posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Atiku stated: “It is difficult to grasp that Chairman Christian Chukwu, MFR, has passed on. His name stands tall in the rich tapestry of Nigerian football. From the mid-70s, when he captained our beloved Green Eagles, to that glorious triumph at the 1980 Nations Cup, Chukwu was the image of grace, discipline, and dedication — both as a player and a coach. His absence will be profoundly felt. My thoughts and prayers are with his dear family and with every one of us who cherished his contributions to the beautiful game. May the Almighty grant him eternal rest and grant his loved ones the strength to carry on.” Chukwu, fondly nicknamed “Chairman,” led Nigeria to its historic first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980 and later coached the national team to a third-place finish at the 2004 AFCON in Tunisia. He also managed Kenya’s national team and held leadership roles at Enugu Rangers, the only club he played for during his illustrious career. Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also joined in the nationwide mourning, describing Chukwu’s death as “a great and painful loss to Nigeria.” In a condolence message issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, Sanwo-Olu praised Chukwu’s lifelong dedication to football and his service to the country. “The death of Christian Chukwu is a painful loss to the country. Nigeria has lost a legend and national icon. He was one of the best Nigerian players and coaches in football history,” the governor said. “He served Nigeria passionately as captain of the national team, then known as the Green Eagles, between 1974 and 1980. He made history as 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.” Sanwo-Olu extended his condolences to the Chukwu family, the government of Enugu State, and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), noting that “Chairman” would be sorely missed by fans and colleagues across the nation. “Christian Chukwu also coached the Super Eagles and later served as General Manager and CEO of Rangers International F.C., which he once played for. He was also a one-time coach of the Kenya national team,” Sanwo-Olu added. The governor urged family, friends, and football enthusiasts to take solace in the enduring legacy the late legend left behind and prayed for God’s comfort and peace. Chukwu’s death comes just 20 days after the 45th anniversary of Nigeria’s 1980 AFCON triumph—a tournament in which he was named Player of the Tournament. His death also marks another painful moment in the history of Nigerian football, as he joins a growing list of late members from that golden generation, including Best Ogedegbe, Mudashiru Lawal, and Okechukwu Isima. Further tributes are expected in the coming days, as the nation reflects on the life and times of one of its most revered sporting icons. Also, The Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has expressed deep grief over the passing of Christian Chukwu, describing him as a football icon, titan, and phenomenon. Reacting to the development on Saturday, Mbah said, “I received with a deep sense of loss the passing away of Chairman Christian Chukwu. It is a personal loss to us as Ndi Enugu, his home state, and indeed to Nigeria as a nation and Africa as a continent. “Christian Chukwu was a national icon, a football titan, field marshal, and phenomenon. His exploits as a footballer united the country across ethnic divides and creed. “He was patriotism personified, serving the nation and Africa unreservedly both as a player and coach of the highly successful Rangers International Football Club of Enugu and Super Eagles of Nigeria, which he captained to victory as Green Eagles at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON. He also coached the Harambee Stars, Kenya’s senior male national team, among others. “Chairman, as he was fondly called, gave his all not only to the nation but to the rest of Africa. He wrote his name in gold in the annals of the history of Nigerian and African football. “Our dear legend has gone the way of all mortals, but the fond memories and the pride he gave Ndi Igbo and Nigeria as a whole will be cherished forever. “My heart goes out to his family, Ndi Enugu, the Nigerian sports community and the entire nation over this irreplaceable loss. May the good Lord grant his soul eternal repose,” he wrote.
Tributes Pour In as Atiku, Mbah, Sanwo-Olu Mourn Late Football Legend Christian Chukwu
