Nigeria’s AFCon winner from Nigeria, Bassey, dies

The winner of the Niga Cup of Nigeria Cup 1980, Charles Bassey, died on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at the age of 71.

Bassey’s death was announced by the Nigeria Premier Soccer Club (NPFL) Akwa United, along with the death of his former international teammate Christian Chukwue, in a statement on his official Facebook page.

The cause of his death was not revealed by Akwa United.

“We, the management, staff and players of the Akwa United Football Club we received with surprise the sad news of the disappearance of two former legends of the national team and coaches Charles Bassey and Christian Chukwu, who died on Saturday, April 12, 2025 in Eket and Enugu.

Akwa United’s team manager Emmanuel UDOH described the death of the two greats of football as a great loss for the Nigerian football community, adding that his disappearance, although he coincided, has left a great void in the Nigerian football space.

“The fraternity of football in Nigeria has lost two great legends, leaders, administrators and passionate lovers of the beautiful game. In their days of the game, Charles Bassey and Christian Chukwu were cult figures for the senior national team: the green Águilas and for their respective Calabar Rovers and Enugu Rangers clubs in the domestic league.

“Their Leadership Qualities were Clearly Seen in Their Achievements On and Off the Field of Play. Their contributions helped The Green Eagles to Her First Nations Cup Cup Glory in 1980, and While Coach Chukwu Later Tutor the Super Eagles to a Third Place Finish At The 2004 Africa Tunisia as well as leading enugu rangers to winning many domestic titles, coach Charles Bassey Handled Many Football Clubs in the Nigerian League Such As Calabar Rovers, tourist of Wikki de Bauchi, Bcc Lions of Gboko, Flamingos Flash, Mobil Pegasus de Eket and Akwa Football Club, among others.

“We in Akwa United Football Club are saddened by the death of the great beyond these great iconic soccer players, coaches and administrators whose legacies in the football annals in Nigeria will be remembered for a long time.

“The football community in Nigeria will lose its guide, words of advice and positive contributions for the growth and development of football in the country.

“We sympathize with their families, teammates, friends, associates, management and players of their former clubs and the Nigeria football community in general. We pray to Almighty God to rest their souls and give their families and loved ones the strength to endure the loss in this moment of pain.”