Emeka Christian Chukwu Jnr, son of the late football icon and former Super Eagles captain, Christian Chukwu, has officially announced a new date for his father’s burial, Saturday, August 16, 2025.
This update comes after the family made a decision to shift the original date of August 22.
The late Nigerian legend, who died on April 12, 2025, at the age of 74, was initially scheduled to be laid to rest on August 22.
However, the upcoming Nigerian Bar Association Annual Conference, set to run from August 22 to 28 and hosted by the Enugu State Government, led to a change in plans.
“We most respectfully wish to inform you of the slight change in the burial of ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu, previously scheduled for 22 August 2025. The new date is now Saturday, 16 August 2025,” read a statement signed by Emeka Christian Chukwu Jnr.
“This change is necessitated by the clash of the previous date with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference scheduled to hold between 22–28 August 2025, being hosted by the Enugu State Government.
“Please kindly accept our apologies for any inconvenience this change of date may cause.”
Christian Chukwu, affectionately called “Chairman,” enjoyed a storied football career. He represented Nigeria 54 times and found the net five times as a player.
He captained the Green Eagles to their historic triumph at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations in Lagos, where they defeated Algeria 3-0 in the final on March 22.
Beyond his playing days, Chukwu played vital roles in Nigeria’s football successes. He was an assistant to Coach Sebastian Brodericks-Imasuen when the country clinched the maiden FIFA/JVC U-16 World Cup in China in 1985.
He also served as deputy to Dutch tactician Clemens Westerhof, contributing to Nigeria’s 1994 Africa Cup of Nations victory in Tunisia and their debut appearance at the FIFA World Cup the same year.
