Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Ikpeba has named late captain Christian Chukwu as the greatest player to wear the Super Eagles jersey, while also backing Mohamed Salah as the best African in Premier League history.
Chukwu, who died in April 2025, captained Nigeria to its first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980 and remains a defining figure in the country’s football history. Ikpeba recalled watching him as a young boy, describing him as an iconic leader in a generation that included Muda Lawal.
Beyond the national team, Chukwu was instrumental in Enugu Rangers’ 1977 African Cup Winners’ Cup triumph over Canon Yaoundé and later served as a coach with the Golden Eaglets and the Super Eagles.
Ikpeba placed Chukwu above a deep pool of Nigerian greats, citing the 1994 Afcon-winning squad, the 1996 Olympic gold medal team, and the 2013 Afcon champions, alongside current stars like Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen.
On the club stage, Ikpeba singled out Salah, following confirmation by Liverpool FC that the forward will leave at the end of the season. Salah has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances, winning major domestic and European titles and multiple Golden Boots.
Despite noting signs of decline, Ikpeba said Salah’s numbers and consistency set him apart from other African players in the league.
Ikpeba, a member of Nigeria’s 1994 Afcon-winning side and 1996 Olympic team, spoke from the perspective of a player who competed at the highest level.