Nigeria’s football community has been thrown into mourning following the death of former Super Eagles midfielder Henry Nwosu.
Nwosu, one of the memorable members of Nigeria’s victorious squad at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations, died in the early hours of Saturday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital after spending several days in intensive care. He was 62.
The sad news was confirmed by former Nigerian football star Segun Odegbami, who shared an emotional message about the passing of his former teammate.
“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.
According to him, the former midfielder passed away around 4:00 a.m. after battling for his life for five days in hospital.
Nwosu was widely admired for his creativity, calmness on the ball and intelligent reading of the game. During the 1980s, often described as the first golden era of Nigerian football, he became one of the most gifted midfielders in the national team.
His death marks the loss of a player whose name remains closely linked to Nigeria’s first continental triumph. That famous moment came in Lagos in 1980 when Nigeria defeated Algeria national football team 3–0 in the final to win the country’s first Africa Cup of Nations title.
At the time, Nwosu was only 17 years old, making him the youngest player in the squad and still Nigeria’s youngest winner of the AFCON trophy.
In recent years, the former midfielder had faced health challenges, including a stroke that required long-term medical care.
A gifted midfielder
Born on June 14, 1963, in Imo State, Henry Onyemanze Nwosu grew into one of the most technically gifted midfielders of his generation.
His football career began with New Nigeria Bank FC in Benin City in 1979. Even as a teenager, his talent stood out as coaches and fans noticed his excellent ball control, clever passing and ability to organise attacks from midfield.
These qualities helped him break into the national team at a very young age. His inclusion in Nigeria’s squad for the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations became the turning point of his career.
Although he was the youngest player in the team, he showed confidence and maturity on the pitch as Nigeria went on to win the tournament on home soil.
Over the next decade, Nwosu remained an important player for the national team. He made about 60 appearances for Nigeria between 1980 and 1991 and scored eight goals.
He also represented the country in several major tournaments, including the Africa Cup of Nations in 1980, 1982, 1984 and 1988, helping Nigeria reach the final again in 1984 and 1988. ⚽️
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