President Bola Tinubu has extended heartfelt condolences to Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze following the death of his mother, Mrs. Sarah Chukwueze, on Thursday.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described the loss as deeply saddening, particularly as it comes so soon after the national team mourned the death of captain Wilfred Ndidi’s father.
“The passing of Mrs. Chukwueze, the mother of one of our bright football stars, just a few days after the passing of Super Eagles’ Captain Wilfred Ndidi’s father, is deeply saddening,” President Tinubu said.
He assured both grieving families of his personal support and prayers, adding: “I mourn with them, and I am with them in prayers during this difficult time.”
The President urged the Chukwueze family to draw strength from the legacy of their late matriarch and “find solace in the memory and legacy” she left behind. He concluded with a prayer that “God Almighty will grant the departed eternal rest.”
Mrs. Sarah Chukwueze’s death, which occurred on Thursday, marks the second major family bereavement to affect prominent Super Eagles players within 48 hours. On Tuesday, Wilfred Ndidi lost his father, Sunday Ndidi, in a fatal road accident.
The twin tragedies have cast a shadow over the national team at a time when players are often away from home for extended periods due to club commitments across Europe. Samuel Chukwueze, 26, currently plays for AC Milan in Italy, having risen to prominence at Villarreal where he won the Europa League in 2021 and earned widespread recognition as one of Nigeria’s most exciting talents.
Wilfred Ndidi, 29, a defensive midfielder and a mainstay at Leicester City since 2017, has long been a key figure for the Super Eagles, assuming captaincy duties in recent fixtures. Both players have been central to Nigeria’s campaigns in international tournaments, including the Africa Cup of Nations, where their contributions have helped sustain national pride in football.
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