Former African Cup of Nations champion Henry Nwosu passes away aged 62

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Former Super Eagles midfielder Henry Nwosu has died at the age of 62.

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The death of the Imo State–born footballer was announced on Saturday morning by his former teammate and fellow 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner Segun Odegbami in a Facebook post.

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Odegbami said Nwosu died at about 4:00 a.m. at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment in the intensive care unit since Wednesday.

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“After five days in hospital battling for his life, the one I call ‘Youngest Millionaire’ passed on at 4:00 a.m. this morning at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Ikeja, Lagos,” Odegbami wrote.

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“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.”

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Nwosu was the youngest member of Nigeria’s squad that won the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations, when the then Green Eagles claimed the country’s first continental title on home soil.

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His death comes days after Nigerian football lost another notable figure, former Super Eagles coach Adegboye Onigbinde, who led Nigeria to the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Onigbinde died on March 9 at the age of 88.

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Both Nwosu and Onigbinde were key players in the Green Eagles set-up of the 1980s. Onigbinde served as coach of the national team between 1982 and 1984.

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At club level, Nwosu played for several Nigerian sides, including New Nigeria Bank F.C. and Stationery Stores F.C.

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After retiring from active football, Nwosu moved into coaching and youth development.

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