The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has refuted social media claims suggesting it owed the late former Super Eagles captain and coach, Christian Chukwu, who passed away on Saturday.
NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, specifically addressed a report alleging the federation owed Chukwu $128,000, stating, “There is no record in the NFF of any outstanding indebtedness to ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu.”
Sanusi noted that during the first term of the Amaju Pinnick-led board, a committee was established to verify and settle debts owed to coaches, including those from past administrations. He confirmed that all verified debts were cleared at the time.
Sanusi clarified that Chukwu served as a coach for the NFF from 2002 until August 2005, when he was sacked following a 1-1 draw against Angola in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in Kano. He emphasized that no record exists of any unpaid dues to Chukwu from his tenure.
The NFF challenged anyone with verifiable evidence of debts owed to Chukwu or any other coach who worked with Nigeria’s national teams over the past 20 years to present such documents. “As a credible organization, if we are presented with genuine proof of indebtedness, we will settle it immediately,” Sanusi added.