Former Super Eagles coach and football icon, Christian Chukwu, has passed away at the age of 74. The revered sports figure, fondly known as “Chairman,” died earlier today, though the exact cause of death remains unclear as of the time of this report.
Chukwu, a towering presence in Nigerian football history, left an indelible mark both as a player and coach. His leadership on and off the pitch earned him admiration across generations of football lovers in Nigeria and beyond.
In 2021, rumors of his death had gone viral, prompting Chukwu to publicly debunk the false claims during his 70th birthday celebrations. “I am terribly embarrassed with this news that I am dead. Several people have been calling me from across the world since the news broke,” he had said at the time, vowing to trace the source of the misinformation.
Reacting to the news of his passing, his longtime friend and teammate, Segun Odegbami, expressed deep sorrow. “My Chairman has passed on,” he wrote. “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 football history, former captain and coach of Nigeria’s national football team, has passed on.”
Odegbami revealed that he received the heartbreaking news from another former national teammate, Emmanuel Okala, emphasizing the profound personal loss the death represents.
Christian Chukwu’s legacy remains etched in Nigerian sports history as one of the finest to don the green and white, both on the field and from the sidelines.
Further details surrounding his death and funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.
Comments