Former Nigerian international Victor Ikpeba has named the late Christian Chukwu as the greatest player to have ever worn the Super Eagles jersey, paying tribute to the legend who passed away in April 2025.
Speaking on SuperSport’s Monday Night Football, Ikpeba was categorical in his assessment, describing Chukwu as an iconic figure whose impact on Nigerian football towers above all others. “Christian Chukwu. He was the first star to win the Africa Cup of Nations. An iconic player, I saw him play as a young boy. In that era, there were a lot of talents like Muda Lawal,” the former Monaco striker said.
Chukwu captained Nigeria, then known as the Green Eagles, to their first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 1980, cementing his status as a pioneer of the game in his country. At club level, he led Enugu Rangers to victory in the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977, defeating Cameroonian side Canon Yaoundé in the final.
After retiring from playing, Chukwu transitioned into coaching. He was part of the technical crew that guided Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets to victory at the inaugural FIFA Under-16 World Cup in 1985 in China, and later served as assistant to Clemens Westerhof during Nigeria’s 1994 AFCON triumph and their appearance at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Chukwu subsequently managed the Super Eagles, leading the team to a bronze medal finish at the 2004 AFCON in Tunisia.
Ikpeba, himself a member of Nigeria’s 1994 AFCON-winning side and the 1996 Olympic gold-winning Dream Team, acknowledged the extraordinary depth of talent the Super Eagles have produced across generations. “In my era, you were spoiled with choices: the 1994 team, the team that won the Olympics, and the 2013 AFCON-winning team. Recently, players like Lookman and Victor Osimhen. There have been lots of great players who have worn this jersey in the past,” he said.
Ikpeba, a former African Footballer of the Year, also used the same programme to name Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah as the greatest African player in Premier League history, citing his goal-scoring records and major honours at Liverpool.
