Henry Nwosu, a member of Nigeria’s historic squad that won the 1980 African Cup of Nations, has died. The Nigerian Super Eagles confirmed his death through a message posted on their official X handle.
This was their post on X:
We commiserate with the family of Henry Nwosu on his passing.
A member of Nigeria’s historic squad that won the 1980 African Cup of Nations.
Rest in peace !
Nwosu’s death comes five days after the passing of former Super Eagles coach Adegboye Onigbinde, who died at the age of 88 on 9 March 2026.
Softfootball gathered, Henry Nwosu’s legacy both as a footballer and as a coach, highlighting the impact he had on Nigerian football during and after his playing career.
Known by the nickname “Youngest Millionaire” due to his early success and fame, Nwosu was a key figure in the national team for more than a decade.
International Success
1980 AFCON
Youngest player (17 years old) in the gold-medal-winning squad.
Olympic Games
Represented Nigeria at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, scoring the team’s only goal of the tournament.
AFCON Finalist
Earned silver medals in the 1984 and 1988 tournaments.
Caps
Earned approximately 60 caps and scored 8 goals for the Super Eagles between 1980 and 1991.
Club Career
Nwosu played for domestic clubs New Nigeria Bank (NNB) and ACB Lagos before moving abroad to play for ASEC Mimosas in Ivory Coast and Racing FC Bafoussam in Cameroon.
Coaching Career
After retiring from professional football, Nwosu moved into coaching and youth development.
National Teams
He served as an assistant coach for the Super Eagles during the 2002 FIFA World Cup and also helped guide Nigeria’s U-23 team to a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Club Level
He managed several Nigerian clubs, including Union Bank FC and Gateway United.
