Former Nigerian international and member of the historic 1980 Africa Cup of Nations–winning squad, Henry Nwosu, has died after a brief illness. He was 61.

Nwosu died in the early hours of Saturday, a few days after the passing of former Super Eagles coach Chief Adegboye Onigbinde.

Former Super Eagles captain Segun Odegbami announced the death, stating that the football legend passed away at about 4:00 a.m. at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, where he had been receiving treatment.

According to Odegbami, Nwosu had been admitted to the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit since Wednesday and battled the illness for several days.

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

“It is with deep pain in my heart that I have to be the conveyor of the news of the death of Henry Nwosu, the youngest of the victorious 1980 AFCON squad. May he rest peacefully with our Creator in Heaven,” he added.

Nwosu was widely regarded as one of the most talented players of his generation. As a teenager, he played a key role in Nigeria’s triumph at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations, when the then Green Eagles secured the country’s first continental title on home soil.

During the tournament, he featured alongside several iconic figures of Nigerian football, including Christian Chukwu, Adokiye Amasiemaka, Felix Owolabi, Emmanuel Okala, Best Ogedegbe and Okey Isima, among others. (Daily Trust)

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