NFF Denies Owing Late Football Legend Christian Chukwu
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has strongly refuted claims circulating on social media that it owes the late Nigerian football icon, Christian Chukwu, the sum of $128,000.
Chukwu, affectionately known as ‘Chairman’, passed away on Saturday, sparking widespread tributes — but also controversy. One viral claim alleged the NFF failed to pay outstanding wages owed to the former national team captain and coach.
Responding to the allegations, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, NFF General Secretary, clarified the federation’s stance:
“There is no record in the NFF of any outstanding indebtedness to ‘Chairman’,” Sanusi said.
NFF: No Debt On Record
According to Sanusi, during the first tenure of former NFF President Amaju Pinnick, a committee was established to review all legacy debts owed to coaches, including those from prior NFF administrations. The mandate of this committee was to verify claims and settle any genuine debts promptly.
Sanusi emphasized that Chukwu served as a coach for the Nigerian national team between 2002 and 2005, and was relieved of his duties after a 1-1 draw with Angola in a World Cup qualifier held in Kano, August 2005.
“There is certainly no record of indebtedness to him in the NFF that period,” he reiterated.
Reacting to one statement on social media that claimed NFF was owing the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning team captain the sum of $128,000, NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said: “There is no record in the NFF of any outstanding indebtedness to ‘Chairman’
— The NFF 🇳🇬 (@thenff) April 14, 2025
A Call for Evidence
In an open challenge, Sanusi urged anyone with verifiable documentation of debts owed by the NFF — to Chukwu or any coach in the past 20 years — to come forward.
“As a credible organization that is very much alive to its responsibilities, if we are confronted with any genuine document of indebtedness to any coach, we will offset the debt immediately.”
As a credible organization that is very much alive to its responsibilities, if we are confronted with any genuine document of indebtedness to any coach, we will offset the debt immediately.”
— The NFF 🇳🇬 (@thenff) April 14, 2025
Who Was Christian Chukwu?
Christian Chukwu, who rose through the ranks to become captain of the Green Eagles — as Nigeria’s national football team was known before it became the Super Eagles — played a pivotal role in helping Nigeria secure its first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980. He later coached the senior national teams of both Kenya and Nigeria, leading the Super Eagles to a third-place finish at the 2004 AFCON.
Chukwu, a revered former captain and coach of the Super Eagles, passed away in the early hours of Saturday, 12th April 2025, at the Niger Foundation Hospital in Enugu. He was 74 years old.