PUNCH Online gathered that the former Enugu Rangers coach died at the age of 74 in the early hours of Saturday in his home state of Enugu.
However, the exact circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear as of the time of filing this report.
His longtime teammate and friend, Dr. Olusegun Odegbami, confirmed the development in a post via his official X handle on Saturday.
Odegbami, who won the 1980 Africa Nation Cup with Chukwu, wrote, “My Chairman has passed on. 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.”
Chukwu, born January 4, 1951, captained the Nigerian national team, then known as the Green Eagles, between 1974 and 1980. Chukwu captained the national team to its first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980 and finished as a runner-up in 1976 and 1978.
The Enugu-born legend 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 the 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.
In October 1998, he was appointed coach of the Kenya national team, and from 2003 to 2005, he coached Nigeria, leading them to reach the semifinals at the 2004 African Cup of Nations.
Chukwu captained the national team to its first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980 and later led the Super Eagles to a bronze medal at the 2004 AFCON in Tunisia.
He was, however, sacked in June 2005 during the qualification campaign for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Chukwu was appointed Ranger’s General Manager and Chief Executive Officer by the immediate past Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
He was a recipient of the honour, Member of the Federal Republic.
In 2019, Chukwu suffered prostate cancer, which affected his leg, which led the family to open 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 in the United Kingdom.
The $50,000 cheque was presented to Chukwu in Enugu by the Chief Operating Officer of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, Philip Akinola.
Also present were ex-governor Ugwuanyi, the former Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, and a renowned sports journalist, Onochie Anibeze.
Chukwu, with support from the Enugu State Government, had already undergone initial surgery in Nigeria and had recuperated.