Femi Otedola, the Nigerian billionaire, said Christian Chukwu was given a “new lease of life” after undergoing a prostrate cancer surgery in 2019.
In a tweet on Sunday, Otedola wrote a tribute to Chukwu, who died on April 12 at the age of 74.
The football legend was the captain when the Super Eagles won their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 1980 on home soil.
In 2019, Chukwu suffered prostate cancer, which affected his legs.
The family had to open a GoFundMe appeal to solicit funds for his medical treatment.
Otedola eventually stepped in and paid $50,000 for Chukwu’s treatment at Wellington Hospital in London.
The billionaire said Chukwu’s death was a “rude shock” to him.
He said the former Eagles captain’s achievements “remain legendary and fully etched in the annals of our national history”.
“Back in 2019, when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer that affected his legs, I stepped in with the necessary support so as to enable him receive comprehensive care and medical treatment in the United Kingdom,” the tweet reads.
“Thankfully, that intervention and opportunity saw him through a very challenging time and gave him a new lease of life. My condolences go out to his entire family and to his fans all over the world. May you all find comfort during this difficult time.”
Charles Bassey, another member of the 1980 AFCON-winning team, died few hours after Chukwu’s death.
Bassey suffered a “nerve root compression” in his spinal cord following a car accident in 1986.
In 2019, the ex-footballer made a public plea for financial support when complications from the accident made it difficult walking.
In 2021, Bassey said the Femi Otedola Foundation funded his spinal cord surgery.
