Christian Chukwu

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Christian Chukwu

| full_name = Christian Chukwu Okoro

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1951|1|4|df=yes}}

| birth_place =

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|4|12|1951|1|4|df=yes}}

| height =

| position = Defender

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1972–1981

| clubs1 = Enugu Rangers

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| nationalyears1 = 1974–1981

| nationalteam1 = Nigeria

| nationalcaps1 = 54

| nationalgoals1 = 5

| manageryears1 = 1982–1985

| managerclubs1 = Enugu Rangers

| manageryears2 = 1985–1986

| managerclubs2 = Nigeria U17

| manageryears3 = 1986–1988

| managerclubs3 = Enugu Rangers

| manageryears4 = 1998–2003

| managerclubs4 = Kenya

| manageryears5 = 2003–2005

| managerclubs5 = Nigeria

| manageryears6 = 2005–2009

| managerclubs6 = Enugu Rangers

}}

Christian Chukwu Okoro (4 January 1951 – 12 April 2025) was a Nigerian football player and coach. A defender in his playing days, he captained the Nigeria national team to its first win in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Early life

Chukwu was born on 4 January 1951.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=47755/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215232708/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=47755/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 February 2009|title=Christian CHUKWU|publisher=FIFA|accessdate=16 October 2009}} He was discouraged by his parents while playing football at a young age. He was also given plantains to hawk just to stop him from playing football. It was when he started playing for National Grammar School, Nike and the Highlanders FC owned by the Ministry of Finance that his parents started taking him seriously.{{Cite web |author=Olufemi Ajasa |date=26 August 2023 |title=Christian Chukwu: My mother sent me to sell plantain to stop me from playing football … |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/08/christian-chukwu-my-mother-sent-me-to-sell-plantain-to-stop-me-from-playing-football/ |access-date=27 November 2024 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-GB}} He became captain of his school and led them to so many victories. His favourite arena was the Ngwo Park. The park has the reputation of producing most of the great players who have played for Rangers, Vasco and the Green Eagles.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Education

Chukwu attended Christ Church Primary School, Uwani, Enugu. He attended National Secondary School, Nike, Enugu. He joined East Central State Academicals and won the National Cup.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Playing career

As a player, Chukwu captained the Nigerian national team, then known as the Green Eagles, between 1974 and 1980. He was in the Nigerian squads that won the Africa Nations' Cup in 1980 and finished runners-up in 1976 and 1978. He was the first Nigerian captain to lift the African Nations Cup trophy after a 3–0 victory over Algeria in the final of the 1980 tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/80a.html|title=African Nations Cup 1980|date=1 May 2003|accessdate=16 October 2009}}

In October 1998 he was appointed coach of the Kenya national team. Later, from 2003 to 2005, he coached Nigeria, leading them to reach the semifinals at the 2004 African Cup of Nations. During the 2006 World Cup qualification phase, Chukwu was blamed for inept coaching and management of the Nigerian national football team, and two matches before the qualifying campaign was over, he was suspended.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4116720.stm|title=Nigeria suspends Chukwu|date=21 June 2005|website=BBC Sport}} In two matches – home and away – against eventual group winners Angola, Nigeria failed to win either one of those two encounters. This was blamed on Chukwu and those two crucial failures eventually led to Nigeria failing to qualify for the World Cup, after having appeared at all World Cup finals tournaments since their debut in 1994.

Chukwu coached the Enugu Rangers to sixth place in the 2008–2009 edition of the Nigeria Premier League. However, he was sacked on 5 August 2009 for failing to reach the club's targets for the season. Chukwu was made the Rangers' General Manager and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The announcement was made by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.{{Cite web |date=4 February 2017 |title=Rangers: Chukwu a square peg in square hole, says Okala |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/02/rangers-chukwu-square-peg-square-hole-says-okala/ |access-date=27 November 2024 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-GB}}

Personal life and death

Chukwu had a close bond and friendship with the teammates and other leaders like himself that made them win and even in old age he still bonded very well with them. Dan Anyiam made a lot of impact in his life as a football player. He spent his childhood between Robinson and Kenyatta streets.{{Cite web |title=A biography Of field Marshal Chairman Chukwu(Part1) - Cybereagles |url=https://forum.cybereagles.com/viewtopic.php?t=34416 |access-date=27 November 2024 |website=forum.cybereagles.com}} He has four children, two boys and two girls. His children love football but not as much as he did.{{Cite web |author=Olufemi Ajasa |date=26 August 2023 |title=Christian Chukwu: My mother sent me to sell plantain to stop me from playing football … |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/08/christian-chukwu-my-mother-sent-me-to-sell-plantain-to-stop-me-from-playing-football/ |access-date=27 November 2024 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-GB}} He was family friends with his wife and their parents had a hand in their marriage, but he was grateful for her understanding and patience.{{Cite web |author=Olufemi Ajasa |date=26 August 2023 |title=Christian Chukwu: My mother sent me to sell plantain to stop me from playing football … |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/08/christian-chukwu-my-mother-sent-me-to-sell-plantain-to-stop-me-from-playing-football/ |access-date=27 November 2024 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-GB}}

In April 2019, the Nigeria Football Federation announced that they would help Chukwu pay for his medical bills for treatment in the United States,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47854300|title=Nigeria Football Federation to help ailing legend Christian Chukwu|date=8 April 2019|website=BBC Sport}} while billionaire Femi Otedola said he would also contribute.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47866115|title=Billionaire Femi Otedola to cover costs for ailing legend Christian Chukwu|date=9 April 2019|website=BBC Sport}} It was later announced that he would travel for treatment in May after the required funds were raised; he was cured.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48036287|title=Chukwu to travel for treatment in May|date=24 April 2019|website=BBC Sport}}

Chukwu died on 12 April 2025, at the age of 74.{{cite news |title=BREAKING: Former Super Eagles Coach Christian Chukwu Dies At 74 |url=https://saharareporters.com/2025/04/12/breaking-former-super-eagles-coach-christian-chukwu-dies-74 |access-date=12 April 2025 |work=Sahara Reporters |date=12 April 2025}}

Controversies

Chukwu was called a destitute old man abandoned to his fate; however, Hon Ogbuagu Anikwe highlighted the facts about his illness, stating that he had a public service job that enabled him to meet his health needs. The Enugu State Government notes that the negative stories surrounding Chukwu's condition started from the desperation of his friend in the US, who claimed that Chukwu had been abandoned.{{Cite web |last=Ogunyinka |first=Victor |date=10 April 2019 |title=Christian Chukwu not a 'destitute old man' - Enugu govt |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/04/christian-chukwu-not-a-destitute-old-man-enugu-govt/ |access-date=27 November 2024 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-GB}}

Honours

Nigeria

Africa Cup of Nations: 1980{{cite web |title=Throwback Thursday Sports: The victorious 1980 Green Eagles team |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/sports/football/458352-throwback-thursday-sports-the-victorious-1980-green-eagles-team.html?tztc=1 |website=Premium Times |access-date=12 April 2025}}