Nigeria Loses One of Her Former Great Soccer Players
Justice Longs Christopher, a former Nigerian international soccer player, and World Cup star is dead.
Justice Christopher in Nigerian Colours
Justice, who was 41 years old on the day of his death on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, was hale and hearty before he slumped and died mysteriously at his personal hotel in his birthplace, Jos, Northern Nigeria.
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has expressed its sadness over the sudden death of the young man.
“We are devastated to hear of the sudden passing away of former Super Eagles midfielder Justice Christopher early on Wednesday morning,” confirmed a statement from the Nigerian Football Federation.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and football community in Nigeria. May his soul rest in peace.”
Friends and colleagues of Justice Christopher, including Joseph Yobo and Peter Odemwingie, are not left out in the tribute-making exercise.
They have also sent their heartfelt condolences to the heartbroken family of the late Christopher.
“My family and I are deeply saddened by the awful news that my close friend Christopher has passed away,” regretted Yobo. “Thoughts and prayers go out to his family,” he added.
“A very gentle man that we shared some wonderful memories with throughout our international career. He will be missed by so many people and I honestly can’t get over the shock.”
We at Soccer Fans Arena, SFA, hereby commiserate with members of Justice Christopher’s family and pray to God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Justice Christopher’s Soccer Career
Justice Christopher, who was born on Thursday, December 24, 1981, began his professional soccer career in 1999 at Katsina United, and later played briefly for Sharks and Bendel Insurance Football Clubs, all in Nigeria.
Christopher, whom the BBC once described as “equally adept as both a defender and midfielder,” moved up to the proverbial Next Level in 2001 when he left Nigeria to join Royal Antwerp of Belgium, 2001, the same year he made his debut for Nigeria.
Apart from Royal Antwerp, he also played for Levski Sofia of Bulgaria; Trelleborgs FF of Sweden; Alania Vladikavkaz of Russia; and Herfølge Boldklub of Denmark.
In addition to playing for Nigeria in different soccer competitions, including the Africa Nations Cup, the former captain of Nigeria’s U-20 national team, also played for Nigeria in the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.
He proved his mettle in all the matches he played for Nigeria during that competition, including the one against Sven-Goran Eriksson’s England team that featured the likes of David Seaman, Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, and Michael Owen.
Justice Christopher against England at the 2002 World Cup
The young man, Christopher, retired from football reluctantly at the end of the 2006-07 campaign at the age of 25, due to an interminable knee injury, after winning 11 caps for the Nigerian senior national team.
He, however, made a brief comeback in 2012 for Nasarawa United, a Nigerian professional soccer club, but did not play any matches for the side before giving up finally on the beautiful game that he loved so much.
May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
Amen!
Nigeria Loses One of Her Former Great Soccer Players. THE END.
By Michael A. Essien. Michael writes from Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
