Victor Ikpeba has named the late Christian Chukwu as the greatest player to ever represent the Super Eagles.
Chukwu, who passed away in April 2025, famously captained Nigeria—then known as the Green Eagles—to their first Africa Cup of Nations triumph in 1980, securing his place as a trailblazer in Nigerian football history.
At club level, he led Enugu Rangers to victory in the now-defunct African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977, overcoming Cameroonian side Canon Yaoundé in the final.
Following his playing career, Chukwu moved into coaching and was part of the technical crew that guided Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets to win the inaugural FIFA U-16 World Cup in China in 1985. He also served as an assistant coach to Clemens Westerhof during Nigeria’s victorious 1994 Africa Cup of Nations campaign and at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Chukwu later took charge of the Super Eagles, leading them to a bronze medal finish at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.
Speaking on SuperSport’s Monday Night Football, Ikpeba praised Chukwu’s legacy and influence on the game.
“Christian Chukwu was the first star to win the Africa Cup of Nations. He was an iconic player—I watched him as a young boy. That era also had outstanding talents like Muda Lawal,” he said.
He added that different generations have produced exceptional players, highlighting the 1994 squad, the Olympic gold medal-winning team, and the 2013 AFCON-winning side, while also acknowledging the contributions of modern stars such as Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen.
