●Segun Odegbami mourns teammate
By Pius Ayinor
The Nigerian sports community has again been thrown into mourning following the death of former Super Eagles midfielder Henry Nwosu. The skilled attacker was a member of the team that won Nigeria’s first Africa Cup of Nations in 1980 in Lagos.
He was 62 years old.
The former New Nigeria Bank player died in the early hours of Saturday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital after spending several days in intensive care, as revealed by former teammate Segun Odegbami.
Odegbami confirmed the sad news in an emotional message posted on Saturday. He wrote, “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.
“May he rest peacefully with our Creator in Heaven.
“Segun Odegbami.”Born on 14 June 1963 in Imo State, Nwosu rose to prominence as one of Nigeria’s most gifted midfielders Nigeria has ever produced. He was popular for his creativity, dribbling ability, and tactical intelligence. He made about 60 appearances for Nigeria between 1980 and 1991, scoring eight goals and featuring in several major tournaments, including the 1980, 1982, 1984, and 1988 Africa Cup of Nations. While Nigeria won the continental title in 1980, the team finished runners-up in both the 1984 and 1988 editions.
Nwosu also represented Nigeria at the 1980 Olympic Games, where he scored the country’s only goal in the tournament. He played for defunct New Nigeria Bank FC of Benin City and ACB Lagos. He also played abroad with ASEC Mimosas of Côte d’Ivoire and Racing FC Bafoussam of Cameroon.
He later served as an assistant coach with Nigeria’s national teams, including the side that won a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

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