Nigeria Mourns 1980 AFCON Hero Henry Nwosu, Dead at 62

Former Super Eagles midfielder Henry Nwosu has died at the age of 62, bringing to an end the life of one of Nigeria’s celebrated football figures and a key member of the historic 1980 Africa Cup of Nations–winning team.

News of his passing was confirmed on Saturday by his former teammate and Nigerian football legend, Segun Odegbami, in a message shared on social media.

According to Odegbami, Nwosu died in the early hours of Saturday after spending several days receiving treatment at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja.

“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 a.m. this morning at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, where he had been in intensive care since Wednesday.”

Expressing his grief, Odegbami described the loss as deeply painful and offered prayers for the late footballer.

“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,” he added.

Nwosu remains a notable figure in Nigerian football history. He was the youngest player in the national team squad that won the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament hosted by Nigeria in Lagos. The victory marked Nigeria’s first-ever AFCON title, achieved by the national team then known as the Green Eagles.

The triumph is widely regarded as one of the most defining moments in Nigerian football history, with the team defeating Algeria 3–0 in the final at the National Stadium in Surulere.

Over the years, Nwosu was celebrated for his skill, vision in midfield, and contributions to the development of football in Nigeria. His role in the historic 1980 victory cemented his place among the country’s football legends.

Tributes from football fans, former players, and sports administrators have begun pouring in, with many describing him as a pioneer whose contributions helped shape Nigeria’s success on the continental stage.

Henry Nwosu’s passing marks another painful loss for Nigeria’s football community, particularly among members of the celebrated 1980 squad that brought the nation its first continental football glory.