By Victor Kanayo
Former Super Eagles captain, Christian Chukwu, has died at the age of 74.
Popularly known as “Chairman”, Chukwu passed away on Saturday, 12 April 2025.
Heritage Times HT reports that his death has already been confirmed by former teammate Segun Odegbami.
Exploits of a Legend
Chukwu captained the then Green Eagles of Nigeria when the country won its first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 1980.
He also led Enugu Rangers FC to victory in the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977.
Following his retirement as a player, he ventured into coaching and led the Super Eagles to a bronze medal at the 2004 AFCON in Tunisia.
He was relieved of the role in June 2005 during the qualification campaign for the FIFA World Cup in Germany.
In 2019, Chukwu was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which later affected his leg. His family launched a GoFundMe appeal to raise funds for the football legend’s medical treatment.
Chukwu also served as assistant coach of the historic Golden Eaglets team that won Nigeria’s first FIFA World Cup title – the FIFA U16 World Cup in China in 1985.
He was likewise an assistant coach for the celebrated “Golden Generation” – the 1994 class of Super Eagles who qualified Nigeria for its first-ever FIFA World Cup finals.
