Samuel Chukwueze has been thrown into mourning after the death of his mother, Mrs Sarah Chukwueze, following a brief illness, with the Super Eagles winger becoming the latest within the Nigeria national team to suffer a personal loss, Footynaija.com reports.
The passing was confirmed on Thursday, January 29, 2026, through messages shared by members of the Chukwueze family, with tributes posted by his siblings, Princess and David Chukwueze.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has acknowledged the development, and released a statement that confirmed Mrs Chukwueze’s death and expressed condolences to the Fulham winger and his relatives.
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The federation described the loss as a painful moment for the wider Super Eagles family, coming just days after another bereavement involving the squad. “Nigeria football is in mourning, once more,” the Federation noted.
Chukwueze’s situation follows closely on the death of Wilfred Ndidi’s father, Mr Sunday Ndidi, who was killed in a road accident in Delta State shortly after Nigeria’s involvement at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025).
Sources familiar with the situation confirmed that Mrs Chukwueze had been ill for only a short period before her death, with no further medical details disclosed by the family.
The 26-year-old had been juggling club duties in Europe alongside personal commitments as her condition worsened, before news of her passing emerged.
At international level, the former Villarreal forward was part of Nigeria’s AFCON squad and featured during the campaign, which ended with the Super Eagles finishing third in the continental tournament.
He is a regular in the national team and has featured across major tournaments and qualifiers, earning over 50 caps since making his senior debut.
