Former Nigerian international midfielder Henry Nwosu has died at the age of 62.
The passing of the Imo State-born football legend was announced on Saturday by his former teammate Segun Odegbami, who disclosed that Nwosu died in the early hours of the morning at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Ikeja, Lagos, after spending several days in intensive care.
Odegbami said the former midfielder had been battling for his life for days before he eventually passed away.
“Henry Nwosu passes on,” Odegbami wrote.
“After five days in hospital battling for his life, the one I call ‘Youngest Millionaire’ passed on at about 4:00 am at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, where he had been in intensive care since Wednesday.”
He added, “It is with deep pain in my heart that I bring the news of the death of Henry Nwosu MON. May he rest peacefully with our Creator in heaven.”
Nwosu was a member of Nigeria national football team during the country’s golden era and was the youngest player in the squad that won the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations.
At the time, the national team—then known as the Green Eagles—secured Nigeria’s first continental title on home soil, a historic achievement in the country’s football history.
Known for his creativity, vision, and technical skill in midfield, Nwosu became one of the standout players in Nigerian domestic football during his playing career.
After retiring from active football, he remained involved in the sport as a coach and mentor, helping to develop young football talents across the country.
His death comes just days after another major loss in Nigerian football. Former national team coach Adegboye Onigbinde, who led Nigeria to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea, died on March 9 at the age of 88.
Both Nwosu and Onigbinde were influential figures during the era of the Green Eagles in the 1980s, with Onigbinde serving as head coach of the national team between 1982 and 1984.
