Former Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu, is dead.
Chukwu passed away at the age of 74.
He died earlier on Saturday. However, details surrounding his death remain unclear at the time of filing this report.
Chukwu’s former Nigeria teammate and friend, Dr. Olusegun Odegbami, confirmed the sad news
“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.
“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,” Odegbami said.
Chukwu is one of those Nigerian footballers that both played and coached the national team.
He captained the national team to their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 1980 and later led the Super Eagles as head coach in the early 2000s
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has expressed deep sorrow following the demise of former Super Eagles head coach, Christian Chukwu.
The erstwhile Rangers International of Enugu player died on Saturday morning.
Chukwu captained the Super Eagles to Africa Cup of Nations glory on home soil in 1980.
The former defender was also named Player of the Tournament.
He was also part of the Super Eagles side that won bronze medals in the 1976 and 1978 AFCON finals.
“We have lost a good and great man. Chukwu was the definition of a strong, dedicated and disciplined leader on and off the field. He was not nicknamed ‘Chairman’ for nothing. He embodied strength, vision and consistency, ” General Secretary of NFF, Mohammed Sanusi, said.
“We pray that the Almighty will grant his soul eternal rest, and also grant the family and friends he has left behind, and Nigeria football’s fraternity the fortitude to bear this big loss.”
Chukwu coached the senior national team of Kenya, nicknamed the Harambee Stars.
He was named Head Coach of the Super Eagles in 2002, and led the team to finish third at the 2004 AFCON finals in Tunisia.
