NFF offers financial and moral support to families of late legends Chukwu, Rufai

By Dayo Awoniyi

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has extended both financial assistance and moral support to the families of late Super Eagles icons Christian Chukwu and Peter Rufai, honoring their enduring legacy in Nigerian football.

Christian Chukwu, affectionately known as “Chairman,” who captained Nigeria to its first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 1980, passed away on April 12 in Enugu. His funeral rites culminated in a week-long series of tributes, including a novelty match and heartfelt testimonials, before he was laid to rest in his hometown of Obe.

Chukwu, nicknamed “Field Marshal” during his playing days, later coached the Super Eagles to a bronze medal finish at the 2004 AFCON in Tunisia. His managerial career also included stints with the national teams of Kenya and Lebanon.

An NFF delegation led by Chief George Aluo, Chairman of the Nigeria National League, represented NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau at Chukwu’s burial. The delegation also included Barrister Okey Obi, Director of Legal Services, and former Super Eagles defender Chikelue Iloenyosi, Chairman of the Anambra State FA.

In his tribute, Gusau hailed Chukwu as a true sports ambassador whose leadership inspired generations.

Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah further honored the legend by retiring Chukwu’s iconic No. 5 Rangers jersey and pledging ongoing government support for former Rangers players. Mbah also committed to collaborating with the Federal Government and NFF to immortalize Chukwu’s contributions.

Simultaneously, the NFF has pledged support for the family of Peter “Dodo” Rufai, the flamboyant former goalkeeper who captained Nigeria to its first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance in 1994.

Rufai’s funeral rites began with a wake on Thursday in Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, followed by a funeral mass at the Catholic Church of Visitation, Festac Town, and will conclude with his internment on Friday.

A two-time AFCON silver medalist and one-time gold medalist, Rufai represented Nigeria at two FI

FA World Cups and remains celebrated as one of the nation’s finest goalkeepers. A strong NFF delegation will be present at his final rites in Lagos to pay their respects.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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