Christian Chukwu, a revered former captain and coach of Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, has passed away at the age of 74.
Fondly known as “Chairman,” Chukwu died on Saturday morning, though specific details surrounding his death remain undisclosed at the time of this report.
Legendary footballer Segun Odegbami confirmed the news in an emotional tribute:
“I just received the news that between 9:00 and 10:00 this morning, ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu, MFR, my bosom friend and teammate, has passed on… May ‘Onyim’ find peace with Our Creator in Heaven, and console his family.”
Recall that Chukwu captained the national team in the 1980s and later returned as head coach, guiding the Super Eagles to a bronze medal finish at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia. However, he was relieved of his duties in 2005 during the World Cup qualifiers.
In recent years, the football icon battled prostate cancer, which affected his mobility. In 2019, a GoFundMe appeal was launched to support his medical treatment abroad.
