Christian Chukwu

Christian Chukwu
Personal information
Full name Christian Chukwu Okoro
Date of birth (1951-01-04)4 January 1951
Date of death 12 April 2025(2025-04-12) (aged 74)
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1972–1981 Enugu Rangers
International career
1974–1981 Nigeria 54 (5)
Managerial career
1982–1985 Enugu Rangers
1985–1986 Nigeria U17
1986–1988 Enugu Rangers
1998–2003 Kenya
2003–2005 Nigeria
2005–2009 Enugu Rangers
2010–2011 Heartland FC
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Christian Chukwu Okoro (4 January 1951 – 12 April 2025) was a Nigerian footballer and manager. As a footballer, Chukwu played as a defender for Enugu Rangers. He was capped 54 times for Nigeria, and was the team's captain when they won the won the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations. He also played for Nigeria at the 1976 and 1978 African Cup of Nations.

After retiring from football, he became a manager. He was the manager of Kenya between 1998 and 2003, and the manager of Nigeria between 2003 to 2005. With Nigeria, he finished third at the 2004 African Cup of Nations, but was fired during 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, where he was blamed for the team's bad performances.

Early and personal life

When Chukwu was young, his parent did not want him to play football. To stop him from playing football, his parents had him sell plantains.

In April 2019, the Nigeria Football Federation announced that they would help Chukwu pay for his medical bills for treatment in the United States. Additionally, billionaire Femi Otedola said he would also help. It was later announced that he would travel for treatment in May 2019 after the needed funds were raised; he was later cured.

Chukwu was married and had four children, two boys and two girls.

Chukwu died on 12 April 2025, at the age of 74.

Honours

Nigeria

References

  1. ↑ "Christian CHUKWU". FIFA. Archived from the original on 15 February 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  2. ↑ "African Nations Cup 1980". 1 May 2003. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  3. ↑ "Nigeria suspends Chukwu". BBC Sport. 21 June 2005.
  4. ↑ Olufemi Ajasa (26 August 2023). "Christian Chukwu: My mother sent me to sell plantain to stop me from playing football …". Vanguard News. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  5. ↑ "Nigeria Football Federation to help ailing legend Christian Chukwu". BBC Sport. 8 April 2019.
  6. ↑ "Billionaire Femi Otedola to cover costs for ailing legend Christian Chukwu". BBC Sport. 9 April 2019.
  7. ↑ "Chukwu to travel for treatment in May". BBC Sport. 24 April 2019.
  8. ↑ "Christian Chukwu: My mother sent me to sell plantain to stop me from playing football …". Vanguard News. 26 August 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  9. ↑ "BREAKING: Former Super Eagles Coach Christian Chukwu Dies At 74". Sahara Reporters. 12 April 2025. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  10. ↑ "Throwback Thursday Sports: The victorious 1980 Green Eagles team". Premium Times. Retrieved 12 April 2025.