Former Super Eagles captain, Henry Nwosu dies at 61

Nigerian sports community is mourning the death of Henry Nwosu, former striker of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, which lifted the Nations Cup in 1980, and dotted jersey Number 10.

Nwosu died in the early hours of Saturday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja, Lagos, after battling for his life for five days in intensive care.

The news of his death was announced by former Green Eagles captain Segun Odegbami, who revealed that Nwosu passed away around 4:00 a.m.

In a message announcing the sad development, Odegbami wrote that it was with “deep pain” that he conveyed the passing of the football icon, fondly nicknamed “Youngest Millionaire.”

Nwosu earned the nickname after becoming the youngest player in the Nigerian squad that won the country’s first continental title at the 1980 African Cup of Nations.

He made about 60 appearances for the Nigerian national team, scoring eight goals between 1980 and 1991. During his international career, he helped Nigeria win the AFCON title in 1980 and also finished as runner-up at the 1984 and 1988 editions of the tournament.

At club level, Nwosu played for several prominent teams including New Nigeria Bank FC and ACB Lagos FC. He also had spells abroad with ASEC Mimosas and Racing FC Bafoussam.