First Nigerian Captain to Lift The African Nations Cup Trophy, Coach Christian Chukwu is Dead
Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that a former Super Eagles captain who was the first Nigerian captain to lift the African Nations Cup trophy, Christian Chukwu, who is better known by the nickname, Chairman Christian Chukwu, has died at aged 74.
OTN News further reports that his longtime teammate and friend, Olusegun Odegbami, who confirmed the development to Channels Television, said that the football legend passed away in the early hours of Saturday, though the exact circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.
Odegbami, who won the 1980 Africa Nation Cup with Chukwu, said: “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 who was born in January 4, 1951, had an illustrious career with Rangers, captaining them to many laurels on the domestic football scene, and led the Flying Antelopes to continental glory by winning the now rested African Cup Winners Cup in 1977.
He was the first Nigerian captain to lift the African Nations Cup trophy after a 3–0 victory over Algeria in the final of the 1980 tournament in Lagos.
He assisted Dutch coach Clemens Westerhof when Nigeria won a second AFCON title in 1994 en route to the country’s maiden appearance at the 1994 USA World Cup.
The Enugu-born legend also led the Super Eagles to a third-place finish at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.
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