By Sports Reporter
Henry Nwosu, a former midfielder with the Green Eagles (later the Super Eagles), passed away at the age of 62 following a brief illness. Segun Odegbami, a fellow AFCON winner and former teammate, confirmed his passing early on Saturday. He passed away while undergoing treatment at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
Henry Onyemanze Nwosu is a former Nigerian football legend and superstar. A typical Lagos boy, Nwosu was born and raised in Surulere, Lagos State. An indigene of Umuoye, Naze, in the Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, he was born on June 14, 1963.
He started his playing career at a tender age. In 1979, he joined the New Nigeria Bank football club of Benin. He also played for other clubs, namely the African Continental Bank of Lagos, ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast, and Racing FC Bafoussam of Cameroon between 1985 and 1993.
A talented and accomplished midfielder, who reigned in the 80s and 90s, Henry Nwosu is one of Nigeria’s football legends and arguably the greatest midfielder. He was a midfield superstar who commanded the respect and admiration of Nigerians. Despite his small stature, he commanded the pitch, consistently challenging opposing teams.
Nwosu also played for the Nigerian national team from 1980 to 1991. Former captain of the Super Eagles, Nwosu made over 60 appearances for Nigeria and scored several goals. In 1980, just before the age of 17, he was called up to the national team that won Nigeria’s first African Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 1980. He made history by being the youngest Nigerian player to lift the AFCON trophy. In the bonanza that followed their victory at the 1980 AFCON, each player was given a house at FESTAC Town in Lagos, and Naira splash, Nwosu, was addressed in the football family as the “youngest millionaire.”
Nwosu also played for Nigeria at the 1980 Olympics and scored Nigeria’s only goal. He participated in the 1982, 1984, and 1988 AFCON championships, with Nigeria finishing as runners-up in 1984 and 1988. After 11 years in the national team, Nwosu bowed out in 1991 but continued with club football until 1993.
A hugely endowed and skilled midfielder, he knew how to navigate his way on the pitch, as summed up in the following excerpt: “Nwosu was a majestic captain; he was a complete midfielder, pint-sized, intelligent, clever, supremely skilled, and knew his way to goal, going by his famous efforts from dead-ball situations.”
At the end of his playing career, Nwosu took to coaching. His first coaching job was with Ibom Stars (now Akwa United) in 1997. He also served as head coach of Nigeria’s U-17 national team, Union Bank Football Club, and Gateway United FC of Abeokuta. He was an assistant for Nigeria’s Olympic football team that took the silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He was also invited to assist head coach Chief Festus Onigbinde at the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by South Korea and Japan. Nwosu’s sojourn in the world of coaching has not been quite successful, as he has struggled to achieve significant results or recognition in his coaching career despite his previous experience with national teams.
A recipient of the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), Henry Nwosu has retired from active football activities. In 2022, he was hospitalized for a heart-related ailment, where he received treatment and recuperated.
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