Henry Nwosu, a former Nigerian international footballer and member of the team that won the 1980 African Cup of Nations, is dead.
His death was confirmed on Saturday by fellow ex-international Segun Odegbami in a Facebook post.
According to Odegbami, Nwosu died at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital after battling for his life for five days.
Providing details of the former midfielder’s final days, Odegbami said the football icon, whom he fondly called “Youngest Millionaire,” passed away at about 4:00 a.m. after being admitted to intensive care since Wednesday.
“After 5 days in hospital battling for his life, the one I call ‘Youngest Millionaire’ passed on at 4:00 am this morning at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos where he had been in Intensive Care since Wednesday,” he wrote.
“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.”
Nwosu was widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most influential midfielders during the 1980s and early 1990s. He made about 60 appearances for the Nigeria national football team.
He was also part of the historic Nigerian squad that won the country’s first AFCON title in 1980.
At club level, Nwosu played for several Nigerian sides, including New Nigeria Bank F.C. and Stationery Stores F.C..
Internationally, he represented Nigeria in multiple tournaments and was also part of the team that competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
After retiring from professional football, Nwosu moved into coaching and youth development, helping to nurture young football talents in Nigeria.
