Kanu Nwankwo, a Popular and celebrated Nigerian Born Footballer also known as Papillo
was born on August 1, 1976. He is a
retired Nigerian footballer, who was a member of and later the captain of the
Nigerian National football team for 16 years from 1994-2010. Nwankwo Kanu is from Abia State of Nigeria.
He is happily married to Amarachi and they are
blessed with three Children; Two Boys
and a Girl- Iyang Onyekachi Kanu, Sean
Chukwudi Kanu and Pinky Amarachi Kanu. He
got married to his wife in 2004 when
Amarachi was just 18years old.
He began his career at the Nigerian league club
Federation Works, before moving to Iwuanyanwu Nationale. In 1993, after a
notable performance at the U-17 World Championships, he was signed by Dutch
Eredivisie AFC Ajax for €207,047. He made his debut a year after and made 25
goals in 54 appearances. In 1996, he was sold to the Serie A side
Internazionale for about $4.7 million the same year that he captained the
Nigerian team that won the gold at the Olympics. He was also named Footballer
of the Year in that year. Kanu Nwankwo has an estimated net worth of over $9 million.
It is interesting to note that he has won several
medals including the UEFA Champions
League medal, a UEFA Cup medal, three FA Cup Winners Medals, and two African
Player of the Year awards among others. He is also one of the few players who
have won the Premiere League, FA Cup, Champions League, UEFA Cup and an Olympic
Gold Medal.
He has also played for and scored several goals with
top international football clubs including Arsenal, West Bromwich and
Portsmouth.
He made the second-most substitute appearances in
Premiere League history after appearing 118 times from the bench. He has played
for Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion in the English Premiere League. He is also
a UNICEF ambassador.
In 1996, he got a health scare when he discovered he had a
heart defect. He thereafter underwent a successful
heart surgery. This however led him to found a foundation called the Kanu Heart
Foundation; a Non Governmental Organization
geared at helping young African children who suffer from heart
defects and also to provide aid for homeless children.
It is worthy to note that he has the Nigerian
National award of Officer of the Order of the Niger(OON).
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