Nigeria’s football community has been thrown into mourning following the death of former international and 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner, Henry Nwosu, who passed away at the age of 62.
The sad news was announced on Saturday by ex-international football legend, Segun Odegbami, in a social media post.
According to Odegbami, Nwosu died at about 4:00 a.m. at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital after spending five days in the Intensive Care Unit battling for his life.
“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 LASUTH where he had been in Intensive Care since Wednesday,” Odegbami wrote.
Nwosu was a prominent member of Nigeria’s famous Green Eagles squad that won the country’s first-ever continental title at the 1980 African Cup of Nations.
He later emerged as one of the most celebrated figures in Nigerian football during the 1980s, earning admiration for his exceptional vision, skillful play, and leadership on the pitch. His nickname, “Youngest Millionaire,” symbolized the immense talent he displayed early in his career.
His death marks the loss of a key figure from Nigeria’s golden era of football, prompting tributes from fans, former teammates, and sports stakeholders across the country.
