Ex-Super Eagles midfielder Henry Nwosu dies at 62

Henry Nwosu, a former Super Eagles midfielder and member of the historic 1980 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) winning squad, has passed away.

His passing was confirmed by fellow ex-international Segun Odegbami via a Facebook post on Saturday. According to Odegbami, Nwosu succumbed to his illness at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja, after a five-day battle for his life. The former football star had been in intensive care since Wednesday and tragically passed away at 4:00 a.m.

Nwosu, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most influential midfielders of the 1980s and early 1990s, earned 60 caps for the Super Eagles. He played a central role in Nigeria’s first-ever AFCON triumph in 1980, a historic milestone in the country’s football journey.

What they are saying 

In a heartfelt tribute, Odegbami, who affectionately referred to Nwosu as the “Youngest Millionaire”, wrote:

• “After 5 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.” 

At the club level, Nwosu had impressive stints with New Nigeria Bank F.C. and Stationery Stores F.C., contributing significantly to domestic competitions during his career. Internationally, he represented Nigeria in numerous tournaments, including the 1988 Summer Olympics, showcasing his skills on the global stage and cementing his legacy as one of the nation’s premier midfielders.

Brief profile 

Nwosu’s club career saw him excel in Nigeria with New Nigeria Bank (NNB) of Benin City and African…