Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has expressed his profound shock and sadness over the passing of Christian Chukwu, the former head coach of the Super Eagles, who died on Saturday at the age of 74 in his hometown of Enugu.
In a heartfelt tribute on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Sani described the news as deeply shocking and emphasised the enormous loss to Nigerian football. He hailed Chukwu as one of the greatest football captains in the nation’s history and a true legend of the sport.
Sani also highlighted Chukwu’s legacy as a player who, despite never playing in Europe, achieved remarkable success with Nigeria, winning several trophies during his career.
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The Super Eagles’ golden era in the 1980s, which Chukwu was a part of, is remembered as a time when football became an integral part of Nigerian culture, thrilling fans and inspiring future generations.
In his tribute, Sani recalled a touching moment from an interview last year when Chukwu revealed that he had not been paid for 19 years. This personal revelation further emphasised the struggles and sacrifices of the football legend. Sani’s words reflected not just admiration for Chukwu’s sporting achievements but also sympathy for the hardships the footballer endured during his lifetime.
Sani’s statement on X read, “Christian Chukwu: The news of the death of ex-Super Eagles Captain and coach is shocking. The nation has lost the best football captain in the nation’s history. He belongs to the generation of players who never played in Europe but won trophies for Nigeria. Chukwu was a star among the legends. Chukwu made football a meal for Nigerians in the 80s. In his interview last year, he revealed that his salary had been unpaid for 19 years. Adieu, the Chairman.”
https://x.com/ShehuSani/status/1911066190673281280?t=iVLQLuKCd0983vU5mBsVSQ&s=19
