Nigeria’s first AFCON (1980) winning captain, Christian Chukwuemeka Chukwu has died after a protracted battle with prostate cancer in Enugu, South-East Nigeria. 4th of January 1951-12th April 2025.
Popularly known and addressed by everyone who knew him as Chairman or Chairman Chukwu, the centre-back made his national debut for the Green Eagles a few years after the team had won the Gold Medal at the 1973 All-African Games which Nigeria hosted.
Chairman Chukwu captained Nigeria to her first appearance at the 1976 AFCON in Ethiopia. The team of Haruna Ilerika, Kenneth Olayombo, Thompson Usiyan, Kunle Awesu, Muda Lawal and co surprised the continent as they finished 3rd with the Bronze medal.
A one-club man, Chukwu played for Rangers International of Enugu and was in the team as they won 3 successive FA (Challenge) Cup trophies in the mid-70s.
The crowning moment for him and the club at that period was the winning of the Africa cup-winners-cup trophy in 1977. To get to the final, Rangers International faced holders, IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan in the semi-finals. Both legs ended goalless, Rangers prevailed on penalties in the 2nd-leg played in Kaduna. Chukwu took and scored his penalty during the shoot-out.
In the final, Chukwu and Rangers International faced Canon of Yaounde, Cameroon. Rangers took 4-1 first leg advantage (Chukwu scored one of the goals with a penalty) into the final leg in Yaounde. That match ended 1-1 and so the cup was kept back in Nigeria. Chairman Chukwu collected the trophy from President Ahmed Ahidjo.
Two years earlier, Chukwu and Rangers had suffered the heartbreak of an Africa final defeat when Rangers could not overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit in the Champions Cup final against Hafia of Conakry, Guinea.
For Nigeria, a very strong squad of players that Chukwu captained included Segun Odegbami, Patrick Ekeji, Sam Ojebode, Muda Lawal, Adokiye Amiesimaka, Emmanuel Okala, Alloysius Atuegbu, Kelechi Emeteole and others did well enough to qualify for a final round of 3 countries in the race to make the 1978 World Cup along with Tunisia and Egypt.
Chukwu scored Nigeria’s first goal in the 4-0 rout of Egypt in the opening game of that round. It turned out to be Nigeria’s only win. Tunisia made it to Argentina.
Another AFCON bronze medal was won in Ghana in 1978 when the team was actually primed to reach the final – a surprise loss to Uganda rankled with the great man. However, two years later and at home in Lagos, Chukwu and his mates finally delivered an AFCON title with the defender voted the player of the tournament.
in 1981, Chukwu captained his beloved Rangers International to a League and Cup double. He also coached them to another FA Cup win in 1983.
Chukwu was part of Sebastian Brodericks backroom team when Nigeria won the first FIFA U17 World Cup in China in 1985. Nearly a decade later, he was also with Clemens Westerhof as Nigeria qualified for her first FIFA World Cup and winning the AFCON in Tunisia.
It is easy to use the term “Legend” about and at many people. Chairman Chukwu is one of those thoroughly deserving of the term. He served his country well. May his soul rest in peace.
