Football Icons Assemble to Celebrate the Legacy of Late Legend Henry Nwosu

Nigerian football legends will gather for a tribute match honoring Henry Nwosu at the National Stadium in Surulere. Organized by Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria, the event will celebrate his legacy as a key member of Nigeria’s 1980 AFCON-winning team, while also raising support for his family.

Daniel Momodu · May 16, 2026 · 46

A stellar lineup of Nigerian football greats is set to gather for a special tribute match organized to honor the life and enduring legacy of the late Green Eagles icon, Henry Nwosu.

The commemorative fixture, organized under the auspices of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) in collaboration with friends of the Nwosu family, is scheduled to take place at the legacy pitch of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos. The match will bring together legendary figures from the 1980, 1994, and 2013 generations of Nigerian football, alongside veterans who played alongside the midfield maestro during his illustrious career.

Nwosu, widely regarded as one of the most gifted midfielders in the history of African football, passed away recently following a brief illness. He cemented his place in Nigerian sports folklore as the youngest member of the legendary 1980 squad that secured the country's first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title on home soil, later featuring prominently in the 1982, 1984, and 1988 tournaments.

Organizers of the event emphasized that the gathering is designed to be a celebration of a true national treasure rather than a somber occasion. Alongside the exhibition game, a fundraising initiative will be launched during the event to support the welfare of Nwosu’s immediate family, ensuring that the football community continues to look after the loved ones of an icon who gave his all for the nation.