Kanu Nwankwo is a household name not just in Nigeria but in Africa and the world by extension. He wasn’t just popular among football followers or enthusiast, non-football lovers knew who he was and loved him.
A particular television advert in the early 2000s shot his fame to the skies especially among non-football lovers. The name “Papilo” came from an old man who showed confidence in his football talent with the phrase: “Papilo, I no say one day, you go make us proud.”
Even though Kanu Nwankwo had already made Nigerians proud as one of that time, the love for him increased as he embodies the symbol of greatness and inspiration for other young footballers, athletes looking up to him.
Kanu is Nigeria’s most decorated footballer and ranks high in the hierarchy of the continent’s as well. The Owerri-born forward developed from the local league in Nigeria and attained fame in Europe and at the world stage.
he belongs to arguably the finest era of Nigerian football to date. The era that paraded superstars like Jay Jay Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, Victor Ikpeba, Emmanuel Amunike, Finidi George among others.
The average Nigerian football lover have fond memories of Kanu Nkwankwo especially in the latter stage of his national team career.
Whenever the Super Eagles were in need of a breakthrough in a difficult match, Kanu is always called upon as the saviour. His trademark dribble, sleeky moves around the edges of box always put the opposition defenders in a state of confusion and trepidation.
Most often than not, Kanu’s sleeky moves lead to a penalty, an assist or a free kick in a dangerous area which eventually results to a winning goal for the Super Eagles.
This post showcases Kanu Nkwankwo’s illustrious career, background, net worth, family and how he overcame a major setback to become one of Africa’s most iconic footballers ever.
Kanu Nkwankwo Background
Kanu is a native of Abia State and belongs to the Aro sub-group of the the Igbo tribe. The footballer was named according to the “Nkwo” market day. So, Nwankwo means, “a child born on Nkwo market day,” in Igbo language.
Imo State capital, Owerri also has a claim on Kanu Nkwankwo as he born in the city on the 1st of August, 1976. Kanu grew up with his two younger brothers, Christopher who played asa defender and and Ogbonna.
Kanu is a devout Christian and often mention it in interviews how he prayed to God to God in the difficult moments of his career.
How old is Kanu?
Kanu Nkwankwo is currently 48-years-old. He celebrates his birthday on the first day of August every year.
Kanu Height
How tall is Kanu Nkwankwo? The former Arsenal and Ajax forward is 6 ft and 6 inches tall. The former footballer would have excelled as a basketball player if he hadn’t become a footballer maybe.
Career: Iwuanyanwu, Ajax and Inter Milan
Kanu Nkwankwo started his career at a local side Federation Works before moving to IIwuanyanwu Nationale. He scored 15 goals in 25 matches and won the league with the club in the 1992/1993 season.
His exploits at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup caught the interest of Ajax Amsterdam. He signed for the Dutch side for an undisclosed fee. Kanu scores 25 goals in 52 appearances for Ajax and played a part in the team’s 1995 UEFA Champions League triumph.
he came on as a substitute in the final against AC Milan as Ajax lifted the trophy with a 1-0 win. Kanu played the entirety of the match the following year as Ajax got to the final again.
However, Marcello Lippi’s Juventus won 4-2 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 in regular time.
Kanu’s time at Ajax came to end that summer as he moved to Inter Milan for $4.7m million. However, his time at Ajax was bitter-sweet. He was in the sidelines after doctors discovered that he had a heart condition which impeded his aortic valve from closing properly.
Kanu underwent a successful surgery in November 1996 but didn’t return to the club until April 1997.
He played alongside the legendary Brazilian striker Ronaldo at the club and won the 1997 UEFA Cup as Inter Milan beat Lazio 3-0 in the final.
Kanu won the Olympic gold and African Footballer of the Year during this time at Inter Milan.
Kanu at Arsenal
Arsenal signed Kanu in February 1999 for about £4.15 million after one goal in 12 league matches for Inter Milan.
Kanu made his debut for Arsenal in a FA Cup match against Sheffield United. He came on as substitue and provided an assist to Marc Overmars who gave Arsenal a 2-1 lead with 10 minutes to play.
Arsenal’s win was marred by controversy because Sheffield goalkeeper, Alan Kelly played the ball out of touch so treatment could be administered to his teammate Lee Morris.
However, Ray Parlour threw the ball back into play, Kanu chased it and played the pass towards Marc Overmars who converted.
Arsenal Wenger admitted that the result wasn’t right as it lacked sportsmanship due to the incident that led to the goal. He offered for a replay which Arsenal won again.
Kanu Nkwankwo scored his first goal for Arsenal in the next round as he came off the bench to the score the only goal as Arsenal edged Derby County.
His popularity rose among fans as he continues to score off the bench for the Gunners. He scored as a substitute in subsequent matches against Tottenham, Sheffield United and Aston Villa.
Kanu Nkwankwo was a member of Arsenal’s “Invincibles” that won the Premier League unbeaten in the 2003/2024 season.
However, his game time began to reduce espevially with the emergence of Thierry Henry who became Arsenal Wenger’s first choice forward. Arsenal rejected a bid of £7m from Fulham for Kanu during that period.
Kanu played 197 times for Arsenal and scored 44 goals before leaving in 2004 at the expiration of his contract.
Kanu Nkwankwo remains a very popular figure at Arsenal. He ranks 13th in Arsenal’s greatest 50 players poll.
Kanu hat-trick vs Chelsea
One of Kanu’s most memorable performances for Arsenal is the hat-trick he scored in fifteen minutes against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 1999. Kanu’s goals erased Chelsea’s 2-0 lead Arsenal won the game 3-2.
Westbrom and Portsmouth
Kanu joined newly promoted Wes Bromwich Albion in the summer of 2024 as a free agent. He scored his first goal for the team in a 1-1 home draw against Fulham as he scored an 88th minute equalizer.
The forward missed a sitter in a match against Middlesborough that season which many considered as miss of the season by fans and the media.
Bryan Robson mouthed the words, “How did he miss that,” on television.
Nevertheless, Kanu helped Westbrom escape relegation that season 2004/2005. They became the first team to escape relegation despite being bottom of the table at Christmas.
Kanu scored against Arsenal in a famous 2-1 in October 2005 as Westbrom came from a down to earn a famous victory over the Gunners.
The win was Westbrom’s first home win over the Gunners since 1973 and it was also the the first time they came from a goal down to win a Premier League match.
Kanu left Westbrom at the expiration of his contract as the club got relegated at the end of the 2005/2006 season. He scored nine goals in 58 appearances.
Portsmouth
Kanu Knwankwo joined Pompey at the start of the 2006/2007 season. Portsmouth had undergone rejuvenation in the second half of the previous season under manager Harry Redknapp. Pompey started the season on an impressive note as they went undefeated in their first five matches and kept a clean sheet.
Kanu scored on his debut against Blackburn Rovers on 19 August. He scored two goals but also missed a penalty. The forward however, finished as the team’s top Premier League top scorer with 12 goals. Kanu signed a one-year at the end of the season.
He had a remarkable 2007/2008 season with Portsmouth as he led them to a FA Cup victory. Kanu scored in the semi-final as Portsmouth defeated his former team Westbrom 1-0 in the Semi-finals. He also scored in the final as Pompey edged Cardiff by the same scoreline.
Kanu Nwankwo’s goal against Bolton Wanderers the following season helped them survive relegation. He resigned with the club in August 2010 and also retained his famous jersey number 27. However, Kanu struggled with injuries with limited his game time especially with the arrival of English manager Michael Appleton.
Kanu last days at Portsmouth was marred with differences as the club entered into administration. Consequently, points were deducted which started a struggle with relegation. They eventually got relegated to the championship and then to league one.
A legal battle almost ensued between Kanu and Portsmouth after the Super Eagles forward accused the club of unpaid wages in tune of £3 million but he later dropped the case after leaving the club. Portsmouth had earlier told Kanu and South African defender Aaron Mokeona to leave the club for failing to report to the club on the first day of back at pre-season training.
Kanu Super Eagles and Atlanta 1996
Kanu Nwankwo had a brilliant career with the Super Eagles between 1993 and 2010. Even though he didn’t win the Africa Cup of Nations, nor score a goal in the five editions he attended, his impact and contributions have not been erased in the narrative of Nigerian football.
The forward was part of the Golden Eaglet team that won the 1993 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Japan. Kanu scored five goals as Nigeria beat Ghana 2-1 in the final. Wilson Oruma finished as the tournament’s top scorer with six goals.
Kanu, as captain of the team scored twice late in the game as the “Dream team” of Nigeria beat Brazil 4-3 in a dramatic semifinal match at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Nigeria went to win the gold medal match with 3-2 win over Argentina.
Kanu Nwankwo featured for the Super Eagles at two FIFA World Cup tournaments, 1998 and 2010 and five Africa Cup of Nations competitions, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008.
He bagged 12 goals in 83 appearances for the national team before retiring in 2010 after the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Career Achievements
Iwuanyanwu Nationale
- Nigerian Premier League: 1992–93
Ajax
- Eredivisie: 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96
- UEFA Champions League: 1994–95 runner-up: 1995–96
- UEFA Super Cup: 1995
- Intercontinental Cup: 1995
Inter Milan
- UEFA Cup: 1997–98
Arsenal
- Premier League: 2001–02, 2003–04
- FA Cup: 2001–02, 2002–03: runner-up: 2000–01
- FA Charity Shield: 1999
- UEFA Cup runner-up: 1999–2000
Portsmouth
- FA Cup: 2007–08
- FA Cup runner-up: 2009–10
Nigeria U17
- FIFA U-17 World Championship: 1993
Olympics
- Summer Olympics: 1996
Nigeria
- Afro-Asian Cup of Nations: 1995
- African Cup of Nations runner-up: 2000
- African Cup of Nations Bronze: 2002, 2004, 2006
Individual
- Ajax Talent of the Year (Marco van Basten Award): 1994–95
- African Footballer of the Year: 1996, 1999
- BBC African Footballer of the Year: 1997, 1999
- FA Cup Final Man of the Match: 2008
- IFFHS Legends
- IFFHS All-time Africa Men’s Dream Team: 2021
Kanu Style of Play
Some football fans tend to have the misconception that Kanu was only good at wining penalties for the Super Eagles and pouncing on rebounds. But a closer look at his days at Ajax and Atsenal show that he was such an elegant player with nimble feet and the ability to hold up play for his teammates.
Kanu played as a forward or some cases as a support striker especially in the Super Eagles. He was an intelligent player with good vision for short- and long-range passes. He could play across the forward line – a testament to how versatile he was during his active days.
Net Worth
Kanu Nwankwo is said to be one of the richest Nigerian sports personalities with investments in real estate and other ventures. Kanu owns a luxury house in his hometown Arochukwu and a N150 million house in the Opebi area of Lagos.
Reports also show that Kanu owns a chain of hotels in Dubai. Kanu also reportedly owns the popular Hardley Apartments in Ikoyi and a N400 million hotel in Owerri.
Kanu’s net worth is said to be in the region of $9 million according to celebritynetworth.com
Kanu’s wife and children
Kanu is married to Amara. They got married when Amara was eighteen years old and the couple have three kids together, Sean Chukwudi Kanu, Iyang Onyekachi Kanu, Pinky Amarachi Kanu. Kanugot married to his wife in December 2004.
Kanu’s first son Sean Chukwudi Kanu was born on February 14, 2005, while his second son Iyang Onyekachi Kanu was born on April 3, 2008. Pinky the last born and only girl of the family was born in February, 2012.
Kanu’s wife Amara is an entrepreneur with expertise in beauty, fitness and wellness. She was born in Owerri on May 27, 1986.
Social Media
Kanu Nwankwo is very active on Twitter with about 400k followers. He is also on Instagram with over 600k followers on his page.
What does Kanu do now?
Kanu Nwankwo is the current chairman of Nigeria’s topflight football club Enyimba. He assumed office on 12 July, 2023. He also owns a foundation, Kanu Heart Foundation where less privileged children with open heart surgery get surgery and post-surgery treatments. The foundation has operations in Nigeria and United Kingdom.
