Nigeria has lost one of her popular and referred footballers. He is Christian Chukwu, who was the captain of the Green Eagles, as it then was before the national team was re-christened the Super Eagles, in his days on the field. Known by the appellation “Chairman”, Chukwu led the national team that won for Nigeria the continental Unity Cup in 1980. His team had earlier in 1976 and 1978 won the bronze medals for Nigeria. That 1980 Unity Cup was the first of the three victories in the record of Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Dr. Muhammed Sanusi, secretary general of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, in a statement, said, “We have lost a good and great man. Chukwu was the definition of a strong, dedicated and disciplined leader on and off the field. He was not nicknamed ‘Chairman’ for nothing. He embodied strength, vision and consistency.”
Chukwu, who also worked as a coach even outside the country and for the national team he once led, died early on Saturday. He was born on January 4th, 1951.
