Chukwu led the Super Eagles to a bronze medal at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Tunisia.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Former coach of the Super Eagles, Christian Chukwu, has died aged 74.
Nicknamed “The Chairman”, Chukwu was head coach of the Eagles between 2002 and 2005.
JoeMartins Uzodike, ex-Rangers international secretary and coordinator of Ex-Rangers Int’l Players Association disclosed Chukwu’s death to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Saturday.
Uzodike said he died at the Eastern Niger Medical Centre.
Born January 4, 1951, Chukwu led the Super Eagles to a bronze medal at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Tunisia.
He was relieved of the job in June 2005 during the qualification campaign for the World Cup in Germany.
In 2019, Chukwu suffered prostate cancer, which affected his leg. The family opened a GoFundMe appeal to solicit funds for the Nigeria football legend’s medical treatment.
Businessman Femi Otedola eventually paid $50,000 for Chukwu’s treatment overseas.
Chukwu captained Nigeria to its first AFCON success in 1980. He also led the Enugu Rangers FC team that won the Africa Cup Winners Cup in 1977.
Chukwu also served as assistant coach of the first team to win a FIFA World Cup trophy for Nigeria – the Golden Eaglets that triumphed at the FIFA U16 World Cup in China in 1985.
He was also assistant coach of the team tagged the Golden Generation – the 1994 class of Super Eagles that qualified Nigeria for its first FIFA World Cup finals.
