Monday, June 08, 2009

The Most Decorated African Footballer of All Time



Nwankwo Kanu, popularly known as Papilo is the most highly-decorated African footballer in Africa’s footballing history, having won a UEFA Champions League medal, a UEFA Cup medal, three FA Cup Winners Medals and two African Player of the Year awards amongst others. He is the only current Premier League player to have won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, Premier League, FA Cup and an Olympic Gold Medal, making his name the answer to many football trivia questions.

Kanu began his career, aged fifteen, at First Division club Federation Works before moving to Iwuanyanwu Nationale in 1992. After a notable performance at the U-17 World Championships he was signed by Ajax Amsterdam in 1993 for €207,047. He made his Ajax debut in 1994 and went on to play 54 times for the Dutch side, scoring 25 goals; Kanu came on as a sub in Ajax's 1995 Champions League final win over AC Milan. In 1996, Ajax sold him to Serie A side Internazionale for around $4.7 million; that summer he captained the Nigerian team that won gold at the Olympics, famously scoring two late goals in the semi-finals against powerhouses Brazil to overturn a 2-3 scoreline into a 4-3 win in extra time. Kanu was also named African Footballer of the Year for that year.

However, soon after returning from the Olympics, Kanu underwent a medical examination at Inter, which revealed a serious heart defect; he underwent surgery in November 1996 to replace an aortic valve and did not return to his club until April 1997. In interviews, Kanu frequently cites his faith as a Christian, and has often mentioned this trying time of his career as an occasion when he prayed to God. Kanu's experience also led to his founding the Kanu Heart Foundation, an organisation that helps predominantly young African children who suffer heart defects. Kanu is known throughout Africa for his philanthropic work.

Kanu has been a member of the Nigerian national team since 1994, making his debut against Sweden in a friendly. He (as of March 2008) has 68 caps and has scored 13 goals for his country. As well as winning the Olympics gold in the football event at Atlanta (1996), Kanu participated in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. Earlier on at the start of his career, Kanu was instrumental in Nigeria's overall success at the FIFA U-17 tournament in Japan (1993) and in their subsequent 2-1 victory over Ghana in the final.
He is the current captain of the Nigerian national team.
(African Voices)


ST

9 comments:

Fancy-Free said...

This is good info to know about him. Kudos on a job well done.

Sassy Trends said...

Thanks dear...

xxx

Natasha said...

No doubt his "Kanu Heart Foundation" has really helped most youngsters with great dreams alot and I think that is one of the personal things I greatly admire him for.

He has the money and he is spending it on the good of the masses.

Kanu Nwankwo is an hero.

Sassy Trends said...

You're rite Natasha, Kanu is the hero...

Miss.Subrosa said...

I have always loved Kanu but my fear about him is that he looks so fragile even when playing on the field. The mere fact that he later had an heart problems increased my fears.
But this is nice, and a great eye opener too.

Sassy Trends said...

Hmn.... fragile you said?
Well, maybe in looks not in displaying skills...lol

Anyway, thanks for stopping by...

xxx

Sassy Trends said...

Hmn.... fragile you said?
Well, maybe in looks not in displaying skills...lol

Anyway, thanks for stopping by...

xxx

Anonymous said...

Samuel Eto'o has won 3 CL medals, 4 league titles in 2 different countries, 3 domestic cups with 3 different teams, 3 super cups and an olympic gold medal including 2 african nations titles. So I suggest you re-think your title.

Anonymous said...

samuel eto'o is the most decorated african player of all time. not kanu

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