The thought of Henry Nwosu is big on my mind.
When I nicknamed him ‘Youngest Millionaire’ it was because he was the youngest player in our group to be worth a million Naira in domestic Nigerian football after AFCON 1980. Henry had other nicknames, one of which was ‘Congo’.
Before 1980, none of us had ever earned a million Naira. What were approved for us as bonuses were no where near that ‘impossible’ figure. A thousand Naira was a whole lot of money. We were previously on N2:00/N5:00 daily allowance, and N60:00 match bonus. Those were the maximum we received.
Henry Nwosu: The Rise Of The ‘Youngest Millionaire’
Then came the Nations Cup and our world changed, particularly for the youngest amongst us, a young man just out of secondary school who was going to earn a big bonus. A thousand Naira felt like a million, hence my nickname for him – ‘The Youngest Millionaire’.
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When Henry Nwosu joined us in the national team on the eve of the 1980 AFCON, he was very well established as captain of Nigeria’s Flying Eagles team, and was well known in the secondary schools (academicals) football circle.
A Midfield General With Extraordinary Talent
He was so good as a midfield player (he controlled it like a ‘General’) that he could have played for any team in the world, in my humble estimation. He was diminutive, skillful beyond his age, fearless, with powerful shots and great passing skills with both feet, a superb dribbler, and a natural leader on the field with the ball at his feet.
His acrobatic ‘bicycle’ kicks were legendary. He scored many goals from literally doing a somersault in the air whilst shooting at an opponent’s goal.
He earned his invitation to the Green Eagles on merit, through his exceptional performance as captain of Nigeria’s junior team. Some of us didn’t initially think he could displace any of the more established and famous players already in Nigeria’s midfield – Muda Lawal, Aloysius Atuegbu, Shafiu Mohammed, Godwin Iwelumo, Okey Isima and so on, but he surprised everyone of us with the confidence with which he matched them in almost every department. He adapted quickly and easily into the different roles and team tactics he was introduced to.
Henry never joined the transition of players to Europe at the time for a professional career because his close friends later revealed that he admitted to them that he could not cope with the cold weather.
I don’t know, also, why he did not follow his friends and colleagues like Alfred Keyede and Sam Owoh to the USA for academic studies with all his contributions to academicals football.
Henry Nwosu’s International Legacy And Coaching Journey
In African football his career for well over a decade at international level is fully documented with stints in a few African countries. He had remarkable contributions to Nigeria’s superb performances at the 1984 and 1988 AFCONS, before finally retiring in the early 1990s.
Although, he later went into coaching, he was not as successful as when he was a player. Coaching and playing are two different ball games.
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At his peak as a coach, he was a member of the technical consortium assembled by late Chief Adegboye Onigbinde to join him to take the national team of Nigeria, the Super Eagles, to the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan. Things did not go down well. The crew was sent packing after a rather dismal performance by the team. I am not so sure what coaching he did again after that, but he did not make any serious mark.
Henry fell ill a few years ago, and with the help of the Governor of Lagos State, some friends and a few philanthropic Nigerians, he was rehabilitated. Unfortunately, health wise, he never quite fully recovered.
On March 14, 2026, Henry Nwosu passed on after struggling without success to ‘defeat’ a lingering heart condition.
As he is laid to rest at his Creator’s in Heaven, on June 6, 2026, on behalf of the entire football family of colleagues, fans and family this is to wish him a peaceful journey Home!
Appeal For A Befitting Farewell
Meanwhile, this is a passionate appeal to the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma; the Governor of Lagos State, Mr, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko; DG of the NSC, Chief Bukola Olopade; the President of the Nigerian institute of Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau; the commissioners of Sports of Lagos and IMO States, any interested Philanthropic Nigerians and organizations that want to be a part of supporting the organisation of a befitting burial for Henry Nwosu, MON, to please reach out to his family. They need our collective help and support NOW to make it happen.
Adieus ‘Youngest Millionaire’.
