Evan692365 at 01:03, 20 December 2025

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{{Short description|Nigerian footballer (1964/65–2022)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Chibuzor Nwakanma
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth based on age at death|57|2022|04|08}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{Death date|2022|04|08|df=y}} (aged 57)
| death_place = [[Aba, Nigeria]]
| height =
| position = [[Striker (association football)|Striker]]
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1985–1986
| clubs1 = [[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = 1987–1991
| clubs2 = [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan Sporting]]
| caps2 =
| goals2 =
| years3 = 1993–1995
| clubs3 = [[Mohun Bagan AC|Mohun Bagan]]
| caps3 =
| goals3 =
| years4 = 1996–1998
| clubs4 = [[Churchill Brothers FC Goa|Churchill Brothers]]
| caps4 =
| goals4 =
}}

'''Chibuzor Nwakanma'''{{Audio|LL-Q33578_(ibo)-Goodymeraj-Chibuzor_Nwakanma.wav|Listen|help=no}} ({{birth based on age at death|57|2022|04|08}} – 8 April 2022) was a Nigerian professional [[association football|footballer]] who played for Indian football clubs [[Mohun Bagan AC|Mohun Bagan]], [[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]], [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan Sporting]], and [[Churchill Brothers FC Goa|Churchill Brothers]] in the 1980s and 90s.

== Early life ==
Nwakanma was born in Nigeria and moved to India to study at the [[DAV College, Chandigarh|DAV College]], [[Panjab University]] in [[Chandigarh]] in the early 1980s.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> He met fellow Nigerian footballers [[Emeka Ezeugo]] and [[Christopher Kem]], with whom he partnered to help Panjab University win the All-India Inter-Varsity Football Championship in 1985.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" /> He also had a degree in [[theology]] from [[Bangalore]] in India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The pioneers - Indian Express |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/the-pioneers/488225/ |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=archive.indianexpress.com |archive-date=5 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105021257/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/the-pioneers/488225 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Career ==
Nwakanma was spotted by football scouts during his time at Panjab University. At the recommendation of fellow Nigerian footballer [[Chima Okorie]], who was then playing for [[Kolkata]]-based [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan Sporting]], he traveled to the city (then known as Calcutta) which at the time was considered as the hub of [[Football in India|Indian football]].<ref name=":1" /> After his studies in Chandigarh, Nwakanma was selected by [[SC East Bengal]], with whom he played for two seasons, before moving over to [[Mohun Bagan AC]] and later to [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan Sporting]]. At Mohun Bagan, he was a member of the team that won the [[Calcutta Football League]], [[Durand Cup]], and [[Federation Cup (India)|Federation Cup]] in 1994, and at Mohammedan Sporting, he was part of the team that won the [[Sait Nagjee Football Tournament]], [[Kalinga Cup]], and the [[Bordoloi Trophy]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> He also represented [[Indian Football Association]] in an exhibition game against the visiting Dutch club [[PSV Eindhoven]], coached by [[Bobby Robson]], in 1991.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=PTI |date=8 April 2022 |title=Chibuzor Nwakanma, Former Nigerian Footballer And Kolkata Maidan Favourite, Dies at 57 |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/sports/chibuzor-nwakanma-former-nigerian-footballer-and-kolkata-maidan-favourite-dies-at-57-news-190729 |access-date=9 April 2022 |website=Outlook India |language=en |archive-date=9 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409030832/https://www.outlookindia.com/sports/chibuzor-nwakanma-former-nigerian-footballer-and-kolkata-maidan-favourite-dies-at-57-news-190729 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Before his retirement from football in 1998, he also played for the [[Goa]]n club [[Churchill Brothers FC Goa|Churchill Brothers]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> He also briefly represented [[Tollygunge Agragami FC]] and participated in the [[Bangladesh Premier League (football)|Bangladesh Premier League]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date= 9 April 2022 |first1= Nilesh |last1= Bhattacharya |title= Chibuzor, who once ruled Kolkata football, dies in Nigeria |newspaper= Football News - [[Times of India]] |url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/chibuzor-who-once-ruled-kolkata-football-dies-in-nigeria/articleshow/90741121.cms |access-date= 10 April 2022 |language= en |archive-date= 9 April 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220409072028/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/chibuzor-who-once-ruled-kolkata-football-dies-in-nigeria/articleshow/90741121.cms |url-status= live }}</ref>

== Style of play ==
Nwakanma was amongst the first few foreign players to play in the Indian domestic football scene, representing the "big three" of Indian football clubs, [[Mohun Bagan]], [[East Bengal]], and [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan Sporting]].<ref name=":1" /> With a diminutive frame, Nwakanma was known for his goal-scoring abilities, and was noted to have been a household name in India at the time.<ref name=":1" /> He was known for his pace, control, powerful shooting and his dribbling skills.<ref name=":0" /> In a career spanning over two decades, he scored over 160 goals.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |title=Maidan star Chibuzor Nwakanma passes away |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/sports/football/maidan-star-chibuzor-nwakanma-passes-away/cid/1859775 |access-date=10 April 2022 |date=9 April 2022 |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (India)|The Telegraph]] |archive-date=10 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410024934/https://www.telegraphindia.com/sports/football/maidan-star-chibuzor-nwakanma-passes-away/cid/1859775 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Nwakanma was known to be religious and became a [[pastor]] on his return to Nigeria after his retirement from professional football.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> He also established an academy in [[Lagos]] focusing his efforts on using football as means to keep young people away from a life of crime.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarkar |first=Sujata |date=2017-01-02 |title=Footballer turned priest reforms kids in Nigeria |url=https://www.mykhel.com/football/footballer-turned-priest-reforms-kids-at-nigeria-012227.html |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=MyKhel |language=en |archive-date=27 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627161427/https://www.mykhel.com/football/footballer-turned-priest-reforms-kids-at-nigeria-012227.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Nwakanma died on 8 April 2022 from a [[cardiac arrest]] at his home in [[Aba, Nigeria]]. He was aged 57.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last1=Obafemi |first1=Jude |website=THE WILL |date=8 April 2022 |title=Former Indian-Based Footballer Nwakanma Dies At 57 |url=https://thewillnigeria.com/news/former-indian-based-footballer-nwakanma-dies-at-57/ |access-date=9 April 2022 |language=en-US |archive-date=8 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408205526/https://thewillnigeria.com/news/former-indian-based-footballer-nwakanma-dies-at-57/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nwakanma, Chibuzor}}
[[Category:1960s births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Nigerian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Panjab University alumni]]
[[Category:East Bengal Club players]]
[[Category:Mohammedan SC (Kolkata) players]]
[[Category:Mohun Bagan Super Giant players]]
[[Category:Churchill Brothers FC players]]
[[Category:Tollygunge Agragami FC players]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in India]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in India]]
[[Category:20th-century Nigerian sportsmen]]
[[Category:Footballers from Aba, Nigeria]]

Chibuzor Nwakanma - Revision history

Evan692365 at 01:03, 20 December 2025