Henry Nwosu possessed outstanding ability, according to Okpala

Sylvanus 'Quicksilver' Okpala, a former Nigeria international and one-time assistant coach of the Super Eagles, has shared his thoughts on the late Henry Nwosu, his former teammate in the national team, who recently passed away. Okpala reminisced about their early days together in the junior national team and later in the Super Eagles.

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Okpala described Nwosu as an extraordinary talent whose full potential was never fully realized, and he spoke about this with Jacob Ajom. Okpala's conversation with Ajom delved into their time together in the national team.

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When asked about his early days at the national team, Okpala recalled that he and Nwosu started together in the Junior Eagles, now known as the Flying Eagles, where Okpala was the first captain of the U20 Eagles. They grew up together in the game, with Nwosu coming from St Finbarr's Secondary School and Okpala from Metropolitan Secondary School Onitsha.

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Other notable players from that era included Keshi, who also attended St Finbarr's, Howard from Igbobi College, and players like Bright Omokaro, Humphery Edobor, and Prince Afejekwu from Edo College, all of whom were part of the 1978/79 team. Okpala and Nwosu were not only teammates but also neighbors after their playing days, often talking to each other from across the street.

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However, Nwosu had not lived in the area for about five years before his death, which came as a significant shock to Okpala, leaving him feeling unwell and requiring him to rest for about 45 minutes to compose himself. As a footballer, Okpala believed Nwosu was a fantastic player, but his full potential was never fully realized, making him a bundle of untapped talent.

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During their first screening, which involved around 50 players, Nwosu stood out, with coach Rojenovic, the assistant to Father Tiko, asking him to step aside after just three or four touches on the ball. Okpala regarded Nwosu as one of the best players Nigeria ever produced, with abilities comparable to those of Messi, including his exceptional dribbling and goal-scoring skills.

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Nwosu's playing style was characterized by his ability to dribble in tight situations, score fantastic goals, and execute acrobatic kicks, making him a special talent with a fantastic volley. Okpala noted that Nwosu was quick-footed and even faster than Messi when dribbling, with the ability to lift himself and remain suspended in the air before releasing his volleys.

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Regarding Nwosu's conduct and behavioral pattern, Okpala described him as a self-assured and proud player who knew he had talent, often singing and mentioning his own name in songs. After winning the 1980 AFCON, when the players were given cars, Nwosu wrote something on his car that Okpala chose not to disclose, but they would often joke about it.

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Okpala remembered a particular match where Nwosu excelled, a World Cup qualifier against Guinea in Lagos, where he scored a fantastic goal in the dying minutes of the match, which was virtually unstoppable. Another notable goal was scored by Nwosu during the Moscow Olympics, earning Nigeria a 1-1 draw against Czech Republic.

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Nwosu also participated in the 1988 Los Angeles Olympics but was unable to play due to an injury, an event that featured senior national teams, unlike the 1996 Olympics, which featured U23 teams, a change introduced by former FIFA President Sepp Blatter. The 1988 Olympics were significant, as many players who participated in the event went on to feature in the 1990 World Cup.