Christian Chukwu, a former head coach and captain of the Super Eagles, has passed away at the age of 74.
Reports indicate that he died in the early hours of Saturday in his home state of Enugu.
Read Also: Former Super Eagles Coach, Christian Chukwu Is Dead
Here are key highlights from the life of the Nigerian football icon:
- Born on January 4, 1951, Chukwu led the Nigerian national team—then known as the Green Eagles—as captain from 1974 to 1980.
- Fondly called “The Chairman,” he captained Nigeria to its first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 1980 and also helped the team finish as runners-up in the 1976 and 1978 editions.
- He became the first Nigerian captain to lift the AFCON trophy after a 3-0 win over Algeria in the 1980 final.
- Chukwu also captained Enugu Rangers FC to win the Africa Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977.
- As a coach, he was part of the technical team that led Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets to victory in the FIFA U-16 World Cup in China in 1985.
- He served as assistant coach for the celebrated 1994 Super Eagles squad that qualified for Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup.
- In October 1998, Chukwu was appointed head coach of the Kenyan national team, and between 2003 and 2005, he managed the Super Eagles, guiding them to a third-place finish at the 2004 AFCON in Tunisia.
- He was relieved of his duties in June 2005 during the qualification run for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
- Chukwu returned to club football and coached Enugu Rangers, finishing sixth in the 2008/2009 Nigeria Premier League season. However, he was dismissed in August 2009 for not meeting the club’s objectives.
- In 2017, he was named General Manager and CEO of Enugu Rangers by former Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
- A respected figure in Nigerian football, Chukwu was honored with the national title of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR).
- In 2021, false rumors of his death circulated, but he debunked them during his 70th birthday celebration.
- Christian Chukwu is survived by his wife, Lilian, and four children.
Join Informant Online WhatsApp Channel With Link Below: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2
