Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Ikpeba has identified the late Christian Chukwu as the greatest player to have ever donned the Super Eagles jersey, while also praising Mohamed Salah as the best African player in the history of the Premier League.
Ikpeba, during his appearance on SuperSport’s Monday Night Football, paid homage to Chukwu, who passed away in April 2025, referring to him as an iconic figure whose legacy stands above all others in the annals of Nigerian football history.
“Christian Chukwu. He was the first star to secure the Africa Cup of Nations title.
An iconic player, I witnessed his performances as a young boy.
In that time, there were numerous talents like Muda Lawal,” remarked the former Monaco forward.
Chukwu led Nigeria to their first AFCON title in 1980 and played a crucial role in the Enugu Rangers team that clinched the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977, overcoming the Cameronian giants Canon Yaoundé in the final.
He later contributed to Nigerian football as a coach, working with both the Golden Eaglets and the Super Eagles.
Ikpeba, who was part of the Super Eagles squad that triumphed in the 1994 AFCON and secured the Olympic gold in 1996, recognized the extraordinary talent that has graced the Nigerian jersey over the years.
“In my time, you were spoiled for choice: the 1994 team, the Olympic-winning team, and the 2013 AFCON champions.
Recently, players like Lookman and Victor Osimhen have emerged. Many exceptional players have worn this jersey in the past,” he continued.
“Considering other remarkable Africans who have played in the Premier League, his statistics are remarkable.
I would assert that he is the best. He has been the top scorer in the Premier League three times — in fact, four.
I don’t believe any African player has achieved that. He is a Champions League, FA Cup, and League Cup winner, and he will be remembered for a long time,” Ikpeba stated.
However, he was frank about the 32-year-old’s recent decline in performance.
“This season, he has been underwhelming; age has caught up with him. He doesn’t have the legs like he did in his early years at Liverpool.
