The first Green Eagles Captain to lift the Africa Cup of Nations in 1980 Christian Chukwu is 70 years old today.
Describes as the rock of jibrata in his playing days. Christian Chukwu lifted the prestigeous Afcon trophy on home soil during the administration of the late President Shehu Shagari at the Famous National Stadium Lagos.
Then the multi talented Green Eagles made up of Segun Odegbami, Adokiye Amesiamaka, Aloy Atuegbu Felix Owolabi, Muda Lawal and others thrashed arch-rival Algeria 3 nil in the final.
Nicknamed Chairman Christian Chukwu, he became the captain of Enugu Rangers football club and the Nigeria national team in the late 1970s. He was in the Rangers team that won the Africa club’s cup in 1977.
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He was not only a mercurial player but a versatile tactician.
His coaching career began in Lebanon in mid 90s, before being appointed coach of the Kenya national team the Harambe Stars in 1998. Later, from 2003 to 2005, he tinkered the Super Eagles of Nigeria, to reach the semifinals at the 2004 African Cup of Nations.
Chukwu coached Enugu Rangers to 6th place in the 2008–2009 edition of the Nigeria Premier League.
