JUST IN: Former Super Eagles Midfielder Dies at 62

Nigeria’s football community is mourning the loss of Henry Nwosu, the former Super Eagles midfielder who was part of the squad that secured the country’s first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980. He was 62.

Nwosu passed away early Saturday at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where he had spent several days in intensive care. Segun Odegbami, his former teammate, confirmed the news in an emotional message, noting that Nwosu died around 4:00 a.m. after a five-day battle in hospital.

“It is with deep pain that I share the news of the passing of Henry Nwosu MON, the youngest member of the victorious 1980 AFCON squad,” Odegbami wrote on Facebook.

Nicknamed “Youngest Millionaire” for being the youngest player on the 1980 championship team, Nwosu was born on June 14, 1963, in Imo State. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as one of Nigeria’s most gifted midfielders, known for his creativity, dribbling, and tactical intelligence.

Between 1980 and 1991, Nwosu made roughly 60 appearances for the national team, scoring eight goals and featuring in multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. Beyond the 1980 victory, he was part of squads that finished as runners-up in 1984 and 1988. He also represented Nigeria at the 1980 Olympic Games, scoring the country’s only goal in the tournament.

At club level, Nwosu played for New Nigeria Bank FC, ACB Lagos, and had stints abroad with ASEC Mimosas of Côte d’Ivoire and Racing FC Bafoussam in Cameroon. After retiring from playing in the early 1990s, he moved into coaching, serving as an assistant for national teams—including the squad that won silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics—and worked with clubs such as Union Bank FC and Gateway United.

In recent years, Nwosu faced health challenges, including a stroke that required ongoing care. His death marks the passing of a key figure in Nigeria’s football history, celebrated for his influence and style in midfield.

Tributes have already begun to pour in from across the Nigerian football community, honoring a player whose legacy remains a defining part of the Super Eagles’ early success.