Tragedy As Super Eagles Legend and AFCON Winner Nwosu Dies 5 Days After Onigbinde

• Super Eagles legend Henry Nwosu has passed away at the age 62 after battling a prolonged illness
• Nwosu died on Saturday, March 14, exactly five days after the demise of former Super Eagles coach Festus Onigbinde
• Shooting Stars legend Segun Odegbami announced the death of his teammate on social media

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Super Eagles legend, Henry Nwosu, has passed away at the age of 62 on Saturday, March 14, after battling a prolonged illness in Lagos state.

Nwosu was the youngest player at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations, where the Nigeria national football team lifted the trophy in front of their home fans in Lagos.

The former ACB Lagos player later served as assistant coach when the Nigeria U23 football team won a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Odegbami confirms Henry Nwosu's death

Shooting Stars legend Segun Odegbami has confirmed the death of former Nigerian international, Henry Nwosu.

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In a statement obtained by Legit.ng, Odegbami stated that the former ASEC Mimosas battled for his life at a hospital facility in Lagos.

The former Super Eagles captain added that Nwosu was placed under intensive care for five days. He said:

"Henry Nwosu passes on.

"After 5 days in hospital battling for his life, the one I call ‘Youngest Millionaire’ passed on at 4:00 am this morning at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos where he had been in Intensive Care since Wednesday.

"It is with deep pain in my heart that I have to be the conveyor of the news of the death of Henry Nwosu MON, the youngest of the victorious 1980 AFCON squad.

"May he rest peacefully with our Creator in Heaven."

Brief history of Nwosu with the Super Eagles

Henry Nwosu broke into the Nigeria national football team squad at the age of 17, becoming the youngest member of a team that included stars such as Segun Odegbami, Stephen Keshi, Muda Lawal and Christian Chukwu.

Nwosu featured in five editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (1980, 1982, 1984, 1988 and 1991), and famously scored a header against the Ghana national football team during the 1988 tournament in Morocco.

He also scored one of Nigeria’s two goals at the 1980 Summer Olympics, per Olympedia.

At club level, the Super Eagles legend played for New Nigeria Bank FC, African Continental Bank FC of Lagos, ASEC Mimosas and Racing FC Bafoussam.

Legit.ng compiled the reactions of football lovers following the death of Henry Nwosu. Read them below:

@minospeed007 said:

"Sad to see Super Eagles legends who gave all they got for the country only to be abandoned by NFF in their most vulnerable moments.

"The late Christian Chukwu was not only abandoned, but also owed salaries by NFF, even in his sick bed. It was so bad that Otedola had to step in."

@OG_694 wrote:

"Henry Nwosu will always be remembered for his skill and dedication on the pitch. Condolences to his family and Nigerian football fans."

@chairmanosunfa added:

"In the 1980s, I used to trek nearly five kilometres every day from Mushin to Yaba College of Technology just to watch Henry Nwosu train with ACB Lagos. Watching him play was always worth the journey; his skill, composure, and passion for the game inspired many of us who loved Nigerian football."

Ex-Super Eagles star Peter Rufia is dead

Legit.ng earlier reported that Peter Rufai, Nigeria’s 1994 AFCON‑winning goalkeeper and two‑time World Cup hero, passed away aged 61.

Friends said the former shot‑stopper had shuttled quietly between Nigeria and Spain for specialist treatment for months, determined to keep the ordeal away from the public eye.

Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.