NFF Mourns Again as Henry Nwosu Joins Fallen AFCON 1980 Greats

Nigeria’s football community has been plunged into mourning once again following the death of Henry Nwosu, one of the country’s most celebrated midfielders and a member of the historic 1980 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winning squad.

Nwosu, who passed away at the age of 62 in a Lagos hospital early Saturday morning, leaves behind a legacy that is woven deeply into the fabric of Nigerian football.

At just 17, Nwosu was the youngest player in the Green Eagles squad that lifted Nigeria’s first AFCON trophy on home soil in 1980.

His brilliance on the left side of midfield earned him global recognition, and he went on to feature in the finals of the 1984 and 1988 AFCON tournaments, both against Cameroon.

In Casablanca in 1988, his powerful first-half header was controversially ruled out by referee Idrissa Sarr, a decision that still lingers in Nigerian football memory.

NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, described Nwosu’s passing as ‘another very sad news’ coming just days after the death of former NFF Technical Director and two-time Super Eagles coach, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde.

He noted that Nigeria football will never forget Nwosu’s immense contributions both as a player and later as a coach.

Nwosu’s career was marked by unforgettable moments, including his thunderous strike against Guinea in April 1981, which secured Nigeria’s progression in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Domestically, he dazzled fans with New Nigerian Bank FC of Benin and ACB FC of Lagos before enjoying a stint in Côte d’Ivoire. His artistry on the pitch, dribbles, vision, and creativity, made him a marvel to watch.

His death brings to nine the number of Nigeria’s 1980 AFCON heroes who have passed, joining Best Ogedegbe, Moses Effiong, Tunde Bamidele, Okey Isima, Christian Chukwu, Mudashiru Lawal, Aloysius Atuegbu, and Martins Eyo.

After retiring, Nwosu dedicated himself to coaching, nurturing talent across several domestic clubs.