Nigeria’s football community has been thrown into mourning following the death of former Super Eagles midfielder Henry Nwosu, who passed away in the early hours of Saturday at the age of 62.
The sad news was announced by Nigerian football legend Segun Odegbami through his media platforms on Saturday morning.
According to Odegbami, Nwosu died around 4:00 a.m. at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where he had been receiving intensive medical treatment since Wednesday.
“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,” Odegbami wrote.
Born in Imo State, Nwosu rose to prominence as one of Nigeria’s most gifted midfielders, celebrated for his creativity, vision and technical brilliance on the ball. He was the youngest member of Nigeria’s victorious squad at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations, where the then Green Eagles lifted the country’s first continental title on home soil.
Over the years, Nwosu established himself as a key figure in Nigerian football both at the national and domestic levels, earning widespread admiration for his intelligence and leadership on the pitch.
After retiring from active football, he remained involved in the sport as a coach and mentor, dedicating time to the development of younger players and grassroots football.
Nwosu’s death comes barely days after the passing of former Super Eagles coach Adegboye Onigbinde, who died on March 9 at the age of 88.
The close succession of both deaths has deepened the sense of loss within Nigeria’s football family, as tributes continue to pour in for two figures who played significant roles in the development and history of the game in the country.
