Nigerian football legend Henry Nwosu dies at 62

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Nigeria national football team midfielder Henry Nwosu, who passed away at the age of 62.

The football icon reportedly died on Saturday morning in a Lagos hospital.

Nwosu has been widely recognized as one of the most talented left midfielders of his generation and a key figure in the history of Nigerian football.

Nwosu gained national prominence as the youngest member of the Green Eagles team 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 subsequently participated 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 out on the 1988 title in Casablanca

Nigeria Football Federation general secretary Mohammed Sanusi described Nwosu’s passing as a blow to the Nigerian football community.

Sanusi said the news came just 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 contribution to Nigerian football both as a player and then as a coach.

One of Nwosu’s most celebrated moments came during a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Guinea in April 1981.

His late goal ensured Nigeria’s passage to the final preliminary round, where the team then faced Algeria

The moment remains one of the memorable highlights in Nigerian 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 team who have died has risen to nine.

Among those who died before 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 ACB FC in Lagos

He also played in Ivory Coast, where he won recognition for his creativity, dribbling ability and vision on the pitch.

After retiring from active football, he moved into coaching and worked with several national clubs.

Through his coaching career, Nwosu has contributed significantly to the development of grassroots football in Nigeria