Breaking: Former Nigerian Footballer Henry Nwosu Dies at 62

F Former Nigerian international footballer and member of the historic 1980 Africa Cup of Nations–winning squad, Henry Nwosu, has died at the age of 62 after a brief illness.

His death was confirmed on Saturday by fellow ex-international, Segun Odegbami, who shared the news in a Facebook post.

According to Odegbami, the football icon passed away in the early hours of the morning after several days of hospitalization.

“After five days in hospital battling for his life, the one I call ‘Youngest Millionaire’ passed on at 4:00 a.m. this morning at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital where he had been in intensive care since Wednesday,” he wrote.

Nwosu was part of Nigeria’s legendary Green Eagles squad that won the country’s first continental title at the 1980 African Cup of Nations, a victory that remains a defining moment in Nigerian football history.

During his playing career in the 1980s, Nwosu became one of the most admired figures in Nigerian football, celebrated for his creativity, technical skill, and fearless style of play. His nickname, “Youngest Millionaire,” reflected the remarkable talent and promise he displayed early in his career.

Tributes have begun to pour in for the late football legend, whose passing marks the loss of another member of Nigeria’s golden generation of footballers.