Justice Christopher

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Justice Christopher

| image =

| fullname = Justice Longs Christopher

| birth_date = {{birth date|1981|12|24|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Jos, Nigeria

| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|3|9|1981|12|24|df=yes}}

| death_place = Jos, Nigeria

| height = 1.81 m

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 = 1996–1998

| youthclubs1 = Amazing International FC

| years1 = 1999

| clubs1 = Katsina United

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 2000

| clubs2 = Sharks

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 2001

| clubs3 = Bendel Insurance

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| years4 = 2001–2002

| clubs4 = Antwerp

| caps4 = 14

| goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2002–2004

| clubs5 = Levski Sofia

| caps5 = 2

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2004

| clubs6 = Trelleborg

| caps6 = 13

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2005–2006

| clubs7 = Alania Vladikavkaz

| caps7 = 7

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2006–2007

| clubs8 = Herfølge Boldklub

| years9 = 2012

| clubs9 = Nasarawa United

| caps8 = 11

| goals8 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2001–2002

| nationalteam1 = Nigeria

| nationalcaps1 = 11

| nationalgoals1 = 0

}}

Justice Longs Christopher (24 December 1981 – 9 March 2022) was a Nigerian professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career

Christopher played for several clubs, including Katsina United, Sharks, Bendel Insurance, Antwerp (Belgium), Levski Sofia (Bulgaria), Trelleborg (Sweden), Alania Vladikavkaz in Russia and Herfølge Boldklub in Denmark.

After the end of the season 2006–07 season he announced his retirement from football.{{cite web|url=http://www.supersport.com/football/nigeria/news/121120/Nasarawa_sign_exWorld_Cup_star |title=Nasarawa sign ex-World Cup star – SuperSport – Football |publisher=SuperSport |date=8 June 2013}}

On 21 October 2012, Christopher announced his comeback and signed for Nasarawa United.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtnfootball.com/africa/nigeria/premier-league/news/2012/november/21-world-cup-star-justice-christopher-to-prove-himself-in-npl.html |title=World Cup star Christopher to prove himself in NPL |publisher=Mtnfootball.com |access-date=21 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230212932/http://www.mtnfootball.com/africa/nigeria/premier-league/news/2012/november/21-world-cup-star-justice-christopher-to-prove-himself-in-npl.html |archive-date=30 December 2012 |url-status=dead }}

International career

Christopher made a total of 11 appearances for the Nigeria national team and was a participant at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, playing in all three games before the team's group stage elimination.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/team_pages/nigeria/squad/newsid_1948000/1948211.stm |title=Justice Christopher |publisher=BBC News |date=20 May 2002}}

Personal life

Christopher died on 9 March 2022, at the age of 40, having collapsed at a hotel he owned in Jos, Nigeria.{{cite news |last1=Okeleji |first1=Oluwashina |title=Justice Christopher: Nigeria World Cup player dies aged 40 |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/60675463 |access-date=10 March 2022 |work=BBC Sport |date=9 March 2022}}

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National cup !colspan="2"\|League cup !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{cite web \|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/4851.html \|title=Justice Christopher \|website=National-Football-Teams.com \|access-date=}}
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Antwerp \|2001–02 \|First Division \|14	1
rowspan="3"\|Levski Sofia \|2002–03 \|rowspan="2"\|A PFG \|2	0
2003–04 \|0	0
colspan="2"\|Total !2	0
Trelleborg \|2004 \|Allsvenskan \|13	0
rowspan="3"\|Alania Vladikavkaz \|2005 \|Premier League \|7	0
2006	\|0	0
colspan="2"\|Total !7	0
Herfølge \|2006–07 \|First Division \|11	0
colspan="3"\|Career total !47	1