Chukwu greatest player to wear Eagles jersey – Ikpeba News

Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Ikpeba has named the late Christian Chukwu as the greatest player ever to wear the Super Eagles jersey, while also hailing Mohamed Salah as the finest African player in Premier League history, The PUNCH reports.

Ikpeba, speaking on SuperSport’s Monday Night Football, paid tribute to Chukwu, who passed away in April 2025, describing him as an iconic figure whose legacy towers above all others in Nigerian football history.

“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 forward said.

Chukwu captained Nigeria to their maiden AFCON title in 1980 and was a pivotal figure in the Enugu Rangers side that won the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977, defeating Cameroonian giants Canon Yaoundé in the final. He later served Nigerian football as a coach, working with both the Golden Eaglets and the Super Eagles.

Ikpeba, himself a member of the Super Eagles squad that won the 1994 AFCON and the 1996 Olympic gold, acknowledged the remarkable depth of talent that has passed through the Nigerian jersey 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 added.

On Salah, whose impending departure from Liverpool at the end of this season was confirmed by the club last week, Ikpeba was equally emphatic, insisting the Egyptian stands alone among African players in Premier League history.

“Looking at other great Africans who have played in the Premier League, his numbers are astonishing. I would say he is the best. Top scorer in the Premier League three times — actually four. I don’t think any African player has ever done that. Champions League, FA Cup, and League Cup winner, and he will be remembered for a very long time,” Ikpeba said.

He was, however, candid about the 32-year-old’s recent dip in form.

“This season, he has been terrible; age has caught up with him. He doesn’t have the legs like he did in his early years at Liverpool. Maybe because of family reasons, he signed a new contract. He decided to stay for another season, which is not bad,” he added.