By Ori Martins
It was my late father who first showed me the image of Henry Onyemanze Nwosu. It was in 1980 after Nigeria’s victory in the African Nations Cup in Lagos. I had struggled without success to watch one of Super Eagles matches – the black and white television screen of Dee Tom Iwuh was completely blured. Chief Thomas Iwuh died at 90 almost the same time Nwosu joined his ancestors at 62.
Following Eagles triumph on home soil there was a particular enlarged pic showcasing all the players that had hand in the 1980 AFCON success. My father brought that pic home and pleasantly hung it in the livingroom. He called me and said; “Look at Chairman Christian Chukwu, he is the captain; this is Mathematical Segun Odegbami; this is Muda Lawal, the Magician. Oh my goodness, this is Emmanuel Okala, and look at the Wonder Boy, Henry Nwosu”! For reasons I still do not understand, my father never gave Best Ogedegbe any mention. But I later knew why he gave Nwosu high regards.
Mind you, I was 11 and a village boy and so I never really understood the true meaning of Wonder Boy, Mathematical and goodness me as my father who loved engaging me in English used them.
Remarkably, Nwosu’s emergence into the football scene worked miracles, evoked memories and produced absolute mystries. To begin with, his entry encouraged school football development. It also made parents who hitherto viewed football and footballers as a non provitable venture to have a rethink. In fact, from 1980, many parents in Eastern Nigeria, particularly in the old Imo State, started naming their male children Henry. In fact, most people who are addressed as Henry today in South East Nigeria were born at the time Nwosu established himself as a football legend.
Significantly, Nwosu had a successful but not very colourful football career that spanned for a decade plus one. He made his debut on January 26, 1980, during an international friendly game against Liberia in Lagos. Nigeria won 1-0, through Segun Odegbami’s goal. He had 53 games and was on target six times for Nigeria. His last game was a Senegal ’92 African Nations Cup qualifier against Togo in Lome on January 27, 1991. That encounter ended 0-0.
Nwosu’s most beautiful goal for Nigeria was his volley during a Spain 82′ World Cup qualifier against Guinea in Lagos on April 25, 1981. Guinea was almost demystified Nigeria, Africa’s then reigning champions on home soil. The spectators were cold. The entire stadium was like a graveyard. Nigerians watching on television or listening on radio trembled. However, Nwosu’s volley saved the day for Nigeria.
Yet, his most discussed moment was his sensational goal that never was. Nigeria was poised to pay Cameroon in her own coin. The Eagles had lost to the Lions in the 1984 Nations Cup final in Cote d’Ivoire, 3-2. Four years later, in Morocco, both sides met in the final, again. Nwosu jumped higher than anyone else and headed home a well tailored pull out from the right. Cameroon’s goalkeeper was beaten flat. However, the referee never allowed that magical acrobatic effort to be counted as a goal.
Certainly, what was Nwosu’s best assist was his beautiful combination in the 1988 Seoul Olympics football qulifier against Algeria in Enugu on January 30,1988. Nwosu’s killer – pass had located danger-man Ademola Adesina who scored while Nwosu himself got the winner that qulified Nigeria for the soccer event of the Olympics.
In club football, Nwosu made his mark with New Nigeria Bank of Benin (NNB) alongside his professional soulmate, the equally late Stephen Keshi. With NNB, Nwosu was Premier League winner as well as WAFU Cup champions. He was also at African Continental Bank (ACB) of Lagos. As a coach, he handled Heartland of Owerri even he served as Golden Eaglets coach and Super Eagles assistant manager.
As someone has said, the best tribute to be given to Nwosu is to revive Nigeria’s decayed school sports competitions.
Henry Onyemanze Nwosu will be buried on May 16,2026, in his hometown, Umukwoma in Umuorie of Nze, Owerri North, Imo State.
May his soul rest in peace.
