Manny Ita –
Nigeria’s football community has been thrown into mourning following the death of former Nigeria national football team midfielder Henry Nwosu, one of the key members of the squad that won the country’s first continental title at the 1980 African Cup of Nations. He was 62.
The former international died in the early hours of Saturday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital after spending several days in intensive care.
The death was confirmed by former Nigerian international Segun Odegbami, who announced the development in an emotional message on social media, stating that Nwosu died around 4:00 a.m. after battling for his life in hospital for five days.
“It is with deep pain in my heart that I have to be the conveyor of the news of the death of Henry Nwosu MON, the youngest of the victorious 1980 AFCON squad,” Odegbami wrote on his Facebook page.
Fondly nicknamed “Youngest Millionaire,” Nwosu earned the tag as the youngest member of the Nigerian squad that secured the country’s first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980.
Born on 14 June 1963 in Imo State, Nwosu rose to prominence as one of Nigeria’s most gifted midfielders during the golden era of Nigerian football in the 1980s. Known for his creativity, dribbling ability and tactical intelligence, he became a key figure in the national team.
He made about 60 appearances for Nigeria between 1980 and 1991, scoring eight goals and featuring in several editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, including the 1980, 1982, 1984 and 1988 tournaments. Nigeria won the continental title in 1980 and finished runners-up in the 1984 and 1988 editions.
Nwosu also represented Nigeria at the 1980 Summer Olympics, where he scored the country’s only goal during the tournament.
At club level, the midfielder enjoyed a distinguished career, playing for several teams including New Nigeria Bank FC of Benin City and ACB Lagos FC. He also had spells abroad with ASEC Mimosas of Côte d’Ivoire and Racing FC Bafoussam of Cameroon.
After retiring from active football in the early 1990s, Nwosu moved into coaching and player development. He later served as an assistant coach with Nigeria’s national teams, including the side that won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
He also worked with clubs such as Union Bank FC and Gateway United FC during his coaching career.
In recent years, the former midfielder battled health challenges, including a stroke that required prolonged medical care and support from members of the football community.
His death marks the passing of one of the stars of Nigeria’s first continental triumph and a player widely admired for his influence in midfield during the formative years of the Super Eagles. Tributes have begun pouring in from across Nigeria’s football fraternity as colleagues, fans and administrators remember his contributions to the sport.
