Nigeria football legend Henry Nwosu dies at 62
Former Nigeria national football team midfielder Henry Nwosu has died at the age of 62.
The Nigerian football icon passed away in the early hours of Saturday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment in the intensive care unit since Wednesday.
The news of his death was confirmed by former Nigerian international Segun Odegbami.
“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,” Odegbami revealed.
“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.”
Key member of Nigeria’s historic 1980 AFCON team
Nwosu enjoyed a distinguished playing career, featuring for clubs including New Nigeria Bank FC and African Continental Bank FC before moving abroad to play for ASEC Mimosas and Racing FC Bafoussam.
At international level, he etched his name in history as the youngest member of Nigeria’s squad that won the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.
Nwosu also represented Nigeria at the 1980 Summer Olympics, scoring the country’s only goal at the tournament.
The midfielder later featured in multiple continental competitions, including the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations, 1984 Africa Cup of Nations and 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, finishing as runner-up in the 1984 and 1988 editions. His final international appearance came in 1991.
Career in coaching after retirement
After retiring from playing, Nwosu transitioned into coaching and technical roles within Nigerian football.
He served as an assistant to Samson Siasia when Nigeria won silver in the men’s football event at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Nwosu was also part of the technical crew led by Adegboye Onigbinde that guided Nigeria to the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
In September 2008, he was appointed head coach of Nigeria U-17 national team but left the role in April 2009 ahead of the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
He later managed clubs including Union Bank FC and Gateway United FC, continuing to contribute to the development of Nigerian football.