Joel Ajayi
The FCT Football Association Chairman, Alhaji Adam Mouktar Muhammed on behalf of the FCT Football family is expressing his heartfelt condolences to the immediate family and the Nigeria Football family over the demise of the 1980 AFCON winning Captain, Christian Chukwu, popularly known as Chairman Christian Chukwu who died at the age of 74 at his native home in Enugu on Saturday.
The FCT FA Chairman, Alhaji Adam Mouktar Muhammed, commiserates with the family over this sad death of Christian Chukwuemeka Chukwu, who later could ached the Nigeria Super Eagles years after winning the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations as Captain of the team.
Alhaji Adam Mouktar Muhammed described the demise of Christian Chukwu as great loss to not only football, but sports in general.
“This is coming to us in the FCT as a rude shock. Nigeria has lost a gem. A hero. A man who many see as an embodiment of strength, character and goals. He was very dedicated to sports growth and develop all his lifetime. He will surely be missed.
“All we can say is that we pray that Almighty Allah grant his soul eternal rest. Grant his family and friends, and Nigeria football’s family the fortitude to bear this great loss.”
Late Christian Chukwu was in the Nigeria senior team that won bronze medals at the 1976 and 1978 AFCON finals in Ethiopia and Ghana respectively, before leading the squad to glory on home soil in 1980. He was named Player of the Tournament.
Born on 4th January 1951, Chukwu coached his darling club, Enugu Rangers (he played for only one club in his career) and then coached the senior national team of Kenya, nicknamed the Harambee Stars. He was named Head Coach of the Super Eagles in 2002, and led the team to finish third at the 2004 AFCON finals in Tunisia.
