As the Nigerian football community continues to mourn the loss of former Super Eagles captain and coach, Christian Chukwu, revelation surfaced that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is owing the late veteran footballer unpaid wages dating back nearly two decades.
Chukwu, a towering figure in Nigerian football, passed away on April 12, 2025, at the age of 74 in Enugu.
Fondly hailed as “Chairman,” he led the Green Eagles (now Super Eagles) to their first ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 1980.
His tenure as Super Eagles coach included leading the team to a bronze medal at the 2004 AFCON in Tunisia.
However, despite his contributions, the NFF is reportedly yet to settle Chukwu’s salary backlog from his coaching stint, which ended in 2006.
According to reports, the unpaid wages amount to over $128,000 (N204 million at current rates), a debt that was reportedly unresolved until his passing.
The situation gained public attention when Adokiye Amiesimaka, a former teammate and friend of Chukwu, criticized the NFF following the death of Chukwu.
In a heartfelt tribute, Amiesimaka said: “Chukwu lived his life, my condolences. I will reach out to the family. But what I detest is the hypocrisy of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.
“I read somewhere that they were expressing sorrow. That’s utter rubbish, they are not sincere.
“Do you know they were owing him? Except he was paid recently, they owed him for years; his due reward for services rendered, and they have the audacity to express grief over his death. What a shame?
“For me, I am happy I had the opportunity of knowing him and playing alongside him at the national team and we had an excellent relationship.
“Even after football, we enjoyed a wonderful relationship. I even represented him in some legal matters here in Port Harcourt.
“It is always sad when one loses a friend but I want to dwell on the fact that we had sweet memories then as members of the Green Eagles. We had a wonderful experience and I am happy we won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1980 for the first time 45 years ago.
“I thank God for that privilege”, Amiesimaka stated.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that this is not the first time the unpaid wages of Chukwu will come to the public limelight.
The issue of unpaid wages first gained public attention in 2008 when Chukwu, who spoke with BBC Sports, claimed that he was being owed $128,000.
Chukwu was quoted to have said: “It is annoying that I toiled so much and these people at the NFA [Nigeria Football Association, which was NFF’s former name] cannot figure out ways of sorting out the money they owe me.
“I have made several efforts through writing, telephone calls and visits to the NFA office but there is still no word. The last time, they assured me that they would get to the bottom of the matter. It’s very frustrating and annoying to be treated this way, I am very sure a foreign coach will not be treated this way.”
However, speaking to the same BBC Sports, Ademola Olajire, then spokesperson for the NFF, debunked the allegations, saying: “If he claims he is owed some money, he should provide concrete evidence, and we will follow it up from this end.”
Maintaining his stance, Christian Chukwu, had in a 2024 interview with The Athletic Nigeria reiterated the NFF’s financial indebtedness to him and how it was only local coaches who mostly received that kind of poor treatment.
“They owe Nigerian coaches. They don’t owe foreign coaches. It is a problem. You take on an Indigenous coach who takes a cheap salary, and you owe him,” Chukwu was quoted to have said.
The resurgence of these allegations has become a talking point, particularly as the NFF failed to mention anything about the unpaid wages in its tribute to Chukwu.
In a heartfelt tribute to the late football leader, NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi reflected on the remarkable legacy of Chukwu, saying that his contributions resonated within the football community, leaving an indelible mark that inspires many.
The tribute reads in part: “We have lost a good and great man. Chukwu was the definition of a strong, dedicated and disciplined leader on and off the field. He was not nicknamed ‘Chairman’ for nothing. He embodied strength, vision and consistency.
“We pray that the Almighty will grant his soul eternal rest, and also grant the family and friends he has left behind, and Nigeria football’s fraternity the fortitude to bear this big loss.”
Pan-Atlantic Kompass also reports that Chukwu was in the Nigeria senior team that won bronze medals at the 1976 and 1978 AFCON finals in Ethiopia and Ghana respectively, before leading the squad to glory on home soil in 1980.
Born on 4th January 1951, Chukwu coached his darling club, Enugu Rangers (he played for only one club in his career) and then coached the senior national team of Kenya, nicknamed the Harambee Stars. He was named Head Coach of the Super Eagles in 2002 and led the team to finish third at the 2004 AFCON finals in Tunisia.
Double Jeopardy as Another ’80 Squad Member, Charles Bassey Died Same Day Christian Chukwu Passed
Just as Nigerians were mourning the passing of Christian Chukwu, the NFF again on Sunday announced the death of Charles Bassey, another member of the 1980 AFCON winning squad, who died on same day that the team captain, Chukwu took his exit: “We are deeply saddened by the death on Saturday of another member of the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning Green Eagles squad, Charles Bassey.
“This has been a day of double tragedy, and the NFF and the entire Nigeria football fraternity are deeply saddened by the turn of events.”
”We lost ‘Chairman’ Chukwu earlier in the day; now, we have to mourn Charles Bassey. May God Almighty grant their souls eternal rest,” NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said.
Charles Bassey, was an attacking player in the 22-man squad that made history as Nigeria’s first Africa Cup of Nations champions, after lynching Algeria 3-0 at a fully packed National Stadium, Surulere on Saturday, 22nd March 1980.
The death of Christian Chukwu and Bassey comes exactly 20 days after the 45th anniversary of the 1980 AFCON triumph. Before them, other members of the squad that had passed on were goalkeepers Best Ogedegbe and Moses Effiong, defenders Okechukwu Isima and Tunde Bamidele, midfielders Aloysius Atugbu and Mudashiru Lawal, and forward Martins Eyo.
