The football community in Nigeria has been plunged into mourning as a former Super Eagles midfielder Henry Nwosu has died at the age of 62 at LASUTH, Ikeja.
The demise of the Imo State-born midfielder was disclosed on Saturday morning by a teammate and 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner Segun Odegbami on his media platforms.
“Henry Nwosu passes on!,
“After five 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. May he rest peacefully with our Creator in Heaven,” Odegbami wrote.
The deceased, who was the youngest member of the 1980 AFCON squad, was reputed for his contributions in Nigeria’s victory at the Africa Cup of Nations, where the then Green Eagles won their first continental title on home soil.
Nwosu would be remembered for his vision, creativity and technical ability, and went on to become a leading personality in the country’s domestic football.
After retiring, the former All Stars member stayed connected to the game that brought him fame without the commensurate fortune, as a coach, helping to brood the next train of soccer talents.
His death has cast a looming shadow over the poor financial and health conditions of legends of the game, who died from health challenges that ordinarily would have been avoided had they received proper and timely treatment.
