Nigeria’s football community has been thrown into mourning following the death of former Super Eagles midfielder Henry Nwosu. He was 62.
His death was confirmed on Saturday morning, March 14, by former teammate and 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner Segun Odegbami.
According to Odegbami, the former midfielder died in the early hours of Saturday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital after spending several days in intensive care.
“Henry Nwosu passes on!, “After five days in hospital battling for his life, the one I call ‘Youngest Millionaire’ passed on at 4:00 am this morning at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, where he had been in intensive care since Wednesday.
“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. May he rest peacefully with our Creator in Heaven,” Odegbami wrote.
Fondly nicknamed “Youngest Millionaire,” Nwosu earned the tag as the youngest member of the Nigerian squad that won 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 quickly established himself as 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 major tournaments, including the 1980, 1982, 1984, and 1988 Africa Cup of Nations. While Nigeria won the continental title in 1980, the team finished runners-up in both the 1984 and 1988 editions.
Nwosu also represented Nigeria at the 1980 Olympic Games, where he scored the country’s only goal in the tournament.
At the club level, the midfield enjoyed a distinguished career, playing for several notable teams, including New Nigeria Bank FC of Benin City and ACB Lagos
