Onyekuru Reveals He Was Named After Afcon-Winning Nigerian Legend

The Super Eagles star has been one of Nigeria’s most exciting attackers in Europe in recent times, and he has disclosed the former footballing icon who inspired his name

Henry Onyekuru’s mother named the Monaco forward after 1980 African Cup of Nations winner Henry Nwosu, the 24-year-old attacker revealed in a chat on Channels Television’s Sports This Morning, Friday.

Nwosu, at the age of 16, was the youngest player in the then Green Eagles squad, that conquered the continent to win the Afcon title at the National Stadium in Lagos.

The gifted midfielder proceeded to enjoy a successful international career for over a decade, appearing at three further AFCON tournaments and finishing runners up twice.

Nwosu took to coaching after hanging his boots and was in the coaching crew of Nigeria’s silver-winning team to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the Super Eagles to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan.

Nwosu’s exploits inspired Onyekuru’s parents to give him the name ‘Henry’ when he was born in 1997.

And when the former Everton man eventually made his debut for the Super Eagles in June 2017 against Togo in a friendly match, his mother was the first person he called.

“I was very happy I called my mum; you know she named me after Henry Nwosu,” he explained.
“I didn’t cry, but I could not eat.”

Onyekuru has made 11 appearances for the three-time African champions and was a member of the Super Eagles squad that claimed a bronze medal at the 2019 Afcon championship in Egypt.