On Saturday, football representatives in Ibadan collectively stated that Chukwu's passing has created a significant void in Nigerian football.
A former coach of the Super Eagles and once an international player himself, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, merely stated that Chukwu’s passing away at the age of 74 was truly unfortunate.
Onigbinde stated that nobody anticipates such news because, in his view, the person is still young.
A ex-midfielder of the Super Eagles, Mutiu Adepoju, referred to the recently departed captain of Rangers International as both esteemed and unpretentious.
Each player enjoyed being around him. When we were just kids and still growing up, we used to watch him play as a skilled Rangers member.
"I had the privilege of playing under him as the coach of the Super Eagles," Adepoju said.
Adepoju believes that merely uttering a casual farewell to the individual widely known as Chairman would fall short of being adequate.
Hours could never suffice to convey the sorrow engulfing the global football community at present. He served as motivation for countless individuals, a benchmark for yesteryears, contemporary times, and forevermore.
Chairman showed great fondness for his teammates, particularly for his players from a coaching perspective.
The former player mentioned that soccer fans would recall him based on his legacy and accomplishments in the sport.
"He will always remain unforgettable, and his legacy will endure indefinitely within every one of us who cherishes the game," he stated.
He implored God to bestow blessings upon the departed soul and comfort his relatives, as well as the Enugu Rangers International team and Nigeria's football community.
At the same time, prominent sports commentator Tayo Balogun stated that the deceased football icon exemplified true sportsmanship.
Balogun characterized the deceased Chukwu as diligent and consistently brimming with immense enthusiasm for the national Nigerian squad.
He was a leader who set an exemplary standard.
"In his era, he led a national team where all the players beneath him were eager to represent Nigeria genuinely. Chukwu became a national icon for Nigeria. He fostered a productive competition between Enugu Rangers Football Club and Shooting Stars Sports Club," Balogun further explained.
Christian Chukwu, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 74, was an eminent figure in Nigerian football.
In 1980, he led the victorious Green Eagles team that secured Nigeria's inaugural Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) championship, thrashing Algeria 3-0 in the finale held at the National Stadium in Lagos.
Later, he became the head coach of the Super Eagles and led the team to a third-place finish at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.
