Birthday alert! What do you know about Nigerian legend Kanu who is 40 today?
– Super Eagles legend turns 40 today, August 1, 2016
– NAIJ.com presents 10 facts you probably didn’t know about him
Former Super Eagles striker, Nwankwo Kanu is 40-year-old today, August 1.
Born on August 1, 1976 in Owerri in Nigeria, Kanu played for teams like Ajax, Inter Milan, Arsenal, West Brom, Portsmouth and went on to become Nigeria most decorated player ever in the history of the nation football.
Nwankwo Kanu
.@papilokanu made us all proud at home and abroad. #HappyBirthdayKingKanu pic.twitter.com/Z1GbUfOSiY
— The NFF (@thenff) August 1, 2016
NAIJ.com brings you 10 facts you probably did not know about the Super Eagles legend.
1. Kanu was named as the 13th greatest player of Arsenal football club in February 2016.
In a poll conducted by fans of Arsenal on the club’s website, Kanu emerged in the top 50 greatest players to have represented the club, garnering a lot of votes that saw him finish in 13 position ahead of Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole.
2. Kanu was named one of the greatest footballers ever by the FIFA supported International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), earlier this year.
3. In 2007, Nwankwo Kanu was named one of the best 100 players in the world according to the latest Top 100 footballers survey by the Association of Football Statisticians (AFS).
The two-time African player of the year was rated 76th among a distinguished list of footballers after the analysis of every football fact and figure over the last 100 years by the AFS.
4. Kanu won two African Player of the Year awards in 1996 and 1999 and he is the last Nigerian to win it.
5. During his illustrious career, Kanu won a UEFA Champions League medal, a UEFA Cup medal, two EPL titles, three FA Cup Winners Medals, an Olympics gold medal.
6. Kanu was owed wages of up to £3 million by Portsmouth from 2006 – 2012 but dropped the case against the club due to their financial difficulties.
7. In November 1996 he first had heart surgery to correct a faulty aortic valve and did not return to his club until April 1997. He had to correct the heart surgery in 2014 which he quickly recovered from.
8. With 86 caps Kanu is the player with the third most appearances for the Super Eagles after Joseph Yobo and Vincent Enyeama.
9. Kanu Nwankwo got married to his wife Amara in 2004 when she was only 18 years old. They have two sons and one daughter.
10. He made the third most substitute appearances in Premier League history, appearing from the bench 118 times.
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