Chukwu’s death a great loss to football world, Afrinvest mourns

Afrinvest has described the passing of former Super Eagles coach and Rangers International Football Club defender and later manager, Christian Chukwu, as a great loss to the football world.

The investment bank is the official sponsor of Rangers International, commonly known as Enugu Rangers.

The Group Managing Director of Afrinvest, Ike Choke, on Thursday, asserted that Africa would find it hard to produce another defender in the mould of Chukwu, who died at 74 years.

He said, “Chairman Christian Chukwu is the strikers’ nightmare. The powerful limbs of great strikers such as Segun Odegbami became jelly at the sight of him. As his name implies, Chukwu (Igbo name meaning God) was seen as a god in African soccer.

“Yes, the continent has produced great football attackers such as George Weah, Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory), Didier Drogba, Yakubu Aigbeni, and Samuel Eto’o, but never produced any defender in the mould of the deceased.”

Chioke prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest and the bereaved the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

The ex-Super Eagles captain reportedly passed at Niger Foundation, Enugu, on Saturday where it was discovered he was short on blood.

Born in Enugu on January 4, 1951, Chukwu faced early challenges pursuing football, with his parents initially discouraging his passion. However, his talent eventually won their support. He was married and had four children. In 2019, he received medical treatment abroad, supported by the Nigerian Football Federation and philanthropist, Femi Otedola.

Chukwu also served as General Manager and
Chief Executive Officer of Enugu Rangers, further solidifying his legacy in Nigeria’s football administration.

He was a legendary Nigerian footballer, coach, and administrator, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of the country’s football. Nicknamed ‘Chairman’, he was celebrated for his leadership on and off the pitch.

Chukwu began his football journey in Enugu, where he captained both his school team and later Enugu Rangers, one of Nigeria’s most successful clubs. As a defender, he led Enugu Rangers to multiple national league and cup titles, including the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977.

Internationally, Chukwu captained the Nigerian national team, the Green Eagles (now Super Eagles), from 1974 to 1980. He was instrumental in Nigeria’s first Nations Cup victory in 1980, lifting the trophy after a 3-0 win over Algeria in Lagos. He also had helped Nigeria secure third-place finishes in the 1976 and 1978 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

He also managed the Nigerian U-17 team. In 1998, he took charge of the Kenyan national team, and from 2003 to 2005, he coached the Super Eagles, leading them to a bronze medal at 2004 AFCON.