The family of late Nigerian football icon Christian Chukwu has fixed a new date for his burial.
He will now be laid to rest on Saturday, August 16, 2025.
The change was made after a clash was noticed between the initial date and another major event.
The burial was earlier planned for August 22, 2025, in Enugu, but that date falls within the same period as the Nigerian Bar Association’s annual conference.
The NBA event, which will also be hosted in Enugu, is expected to run from August 22 to August 28, 2025.
This overlap led the family to shift the burial date to avoid any possible complications with logistics or attendance.
Christian Chukwu is remembered as a key figure in Nigerian football history.
He was the captain of the Green Eagles when they lifted the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy in 1980.
He also served as assistant coach when the national team claimed its second AFCON title in 1994 and helped the team qualify for their first FIFA World Cup that same year.
Beyond those achievements, Chukwu played a major role in youth football.
He was on the coaching team when Nigeria won the FIFA U-16 World Cup in China in 1985.
Years later, he returned as head coach to lead the Super Eagles to a third-place finish at the 2004 AFCON tournament in Tunisia.
He spent his entire club career with Enugu Rangers, where he became a respected leader on and off the pitch.
Chukwu made 54 appearances for Nigeria and scored five goals during his time with the national team.
The family has expressed regret for any disruption the date change might cause and has asked for understanding from those who planned to attend.
Leave a Reply