Chairman Christian Chukwu was an institution — at a time when the word “institution” still carried a rich and dignified meaning. His towering presence in Nigerian football endured beyond the fleeting memory that often haunts sports legends. We are fortunate to have had him for this long.
His passing on 12 April 2025, at 74, shocked many who had, for years, worried about his health. His condition had notably improved after billionaire Femi Otedola’s $50,000 intervention paid for surgery in London in April 2019 — a gesture Chukwu never forgot, always speaking of Otedola in the most glowing terms.
The Christian Chukwu we mourn today had defied death almost 31 years earlier. As technical adviser of Iwuanyanwu Nationale, he survived a devastating air crash on 18 September 1994 in Tamanrasset, southern Algeria, while returning from an African Champions League quarter-final against Esperance Sportive of Tunisia. The crash, blamed on poor weather and fuel exhaustion, tragically claimed five lives. Chukwu emerged from the wreckage almost unscathed — another testimony to his enduring resilience.
A Fortuitous First Meeting
My first encounter with Chukwu was on an October night in 1979, after a match between Enugu Rangers and Sharks of Port Harcourt at the National Stadium, Lagos, marking 20 years of television in Africa.
He stood by the National Institute for Sports, perhaps waiting for someone. Star-struck, I introduced myself as a reporter from The Punch and suggested an interview. Ever courteous, he agreed but hinted that it might be a long wait, as the Green Eagles were departing for Brazil that night to prepare for the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations — handing me an exclusive story.
I didn’t see him again until 1984 at Ikeja Airport, as Rangers prepared to travel to Lome for an African Cup Winners Cup game against OC Agaza of Togo. My boss at The Guardian, Sunny Ojeagbase, had given me a note to reintroduce myself — a note I lost in the chaos. But Chukwu remembered me, even without the note. His warmth was unforgettable.
He even shared Rangers’ team list with me, joking, “You should not get to the stadium to ask for the same list that was compiled in the room you spent the night.” His humility, humor, and generosity never waned.
The Gentleman Leader
Chukwu’s teammates loved and respected him. His quiet leadership drew people to him. He was humorous with friends but almost shy in public, rarely speaking unless he truly wanted to.
He was deeply involved in tactical decisions — famously preferring to pair with Godwin Odiye rather than Abubakar of Raccah Rovers, as the story between him and Emmanuel Okala goes. His wry humor shone when a reporter once asked about Rangers’ direct playing style:
“Did you see any goalposts in the midfield?” he quipped.
In the East, Chukwu was more than a footballer — he embodied the spirit of post-Civil War survival and hope. Leading the East Central State Academicals to the Manuwa Cup, joining Rangers, and captaining the national team, he was a symbol of a reborn, resilient people.
A Lifetime of Achievements
Chukwu’s footballing achievements were vast:
- Bronze medals at the Africa Cup of Nations: 1976 and 1978
- Silver medal at the 1978 All-Africa Games
- Champion at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations
He was also part of Nigeria’s coaching successes:
- Assistant to Sebastian Broderick during Nigeria’s victory at the inaugural FIFA U-16 World Cup in 1985.
- Assistant to Clemens Westerhof during Nigeria’s Nations Cup win in 1994.
- Managerial stints with Safa FC in Lebanon (1997) and the Kenyan national team (1998).
- Coach of the Super Eagles, leading them to a third-place finish at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations.
Yet, like many Nigerian heroes, Chukwu’s later years were marred by neglect. Despite reports he was owed $128,000 in unpaid salaries after his stint with the national team, the Nigeria Football Federation denied it, drawing anger from figures like Adokiye Amiesimaka.
Enduring Legacy
On his 70th birthday in 2021, his teammates, players across Africa, journalists, and politicians — including Peter Obi and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe — gathered to celebrate him, a rare moment of recognition for a man whose labour, like that of so many heroes, risked being forgotten.
Nigeria’s former anthem promised that “the labor of our heroes past shall never be in vain.” But reality often tells a different story. Even the labor of present heroes is too often in vain.
Christian Chukwu—chairman, brother, friend — you led us well. Your leadership on and off the pitch gave many hope when they needed it most. May the Almighty grant you eternal rest.
