The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed deep sorrow following the death of former Nigeria national football team midfielder Henry Nwosu, who passed away at the age of 62.
The football icon reportedly died in a hospital in Lagos on Saturday morning.
Nwosu was widely recognised as one of the most talented left-sided midfielders of his generation and a key figure in Nigeria’s football history.
Nwosu gained national prominence as the youngest member of the Green Eagles squad that won the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations
At just 17 years old, he played an important role in the historic victory that earned Nigeria its first continental football title.
He later featured in two more Africa Cup of Nations finals in 1984 and 1988 both against Cameroon
Nigeria lost the 1984 final 3–1 in Abidjan and narrowly missed the title again in 1988 in Casablanca
The General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mohammed Sanusi, described Nwosu’s passing as a painful blow to Nigeria’s football community.
Sanusi said the news came only days after the death of former NFF Technical Director Adegboye Onigbinde, making the loss even more difficult for the football family.
He praised Nwosu for his outstanding contributions to Nigerian football both as a player and later as a coach.
One of Nwosu’s most celebrated moments came during a FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Guinea in April 1981.
His late goal secured Nigeria’s progression to the final qualifying round, where the team later faced Algeria
The moment remains one of the memorable highlights in Nigeria’s football history.
During the 1988 AFCON final Nwosu appeared to have given Nigeria the lead with a first-half header.
However, the goal was disallowed by Mauritanian referee Idrissa Sarr, a decision that sparked controversy among fans and football analysts.
Many observers believed the goal was legitimate and could have changed the outcome of the match.
With Nwosu’s death, the number of players from Nigeria’s historic 1980 AFCON-winning squad who have passed away has now risen to nine.
Among those who died earlier are Best Ogedegbe, Moses Effiong, Tunde Bamidele, Okey Isima, Christian Chukwu, Mudashiru Lawal, Aloysius Atuegbu and Martins Eyo
At club level, Nwosu played for New Nigerian Bank FC in Benin City and later for ACB FC in Lagos
He also had a stint playing in Côte d’Ivoire, where he gained recognition for his creativity, dribbling ability, and vision on the pitch.
After retiring from active football, he transitioned into coaching and worked with several domestic clubs.
Through his coaching career, Nwosu contributed significantly to the development of grassroots football in Nigeria
