Nigerian Football Family Mourns Chukwu’s Mother’s Death

The remains of the late Mrs Rebecca Ezinne, mother of former Green Eagles Captain, Christian Chukwu, will be buried in Enugu State today.

The Chief Media Officer, Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Ademola Olajire, stated this in a statement in Lagos.

Ezinne died during a brief illness last December

“I am inviting all my friends in the football family to join me in paying the last respects to my wonderful mother,’’ it quoted Chukwu as saying.

It said that a church service at St. Phillips Anglican Church, Umuikeowo Community, Obe Town, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, would precede the internment.

The statement said the country’s football family was expected to commiserate with Chukwu, who captained the Green Eagles to lift the African Cup of Nations in 1980.

It noted that Chukwu was assistant coach of the team when it won the trophy for the second time in Tunisia in 1994.

He was also the assistant coach when the Super Eagles participated at their first FIFA World Cup finals in the U.S. in 1994, it said.

The statement also noted that the man fondly called “Chairman’’ was the Head Coach of the Super Eagles between 2002 and 2005.

It quoted the NFA President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, as saying that the association would be well represented at the burial.

“Chairman Chukwu served this nation excellently and credibly as a player and as a coach and is still serving as a member of the NFA Technical Committee.

“The NFA will be well represented at the burial of his mother,’’ the statement said.