The ConnectNigeria team celebrates one of our nation’s finest footballers, Nwankwo Kanu aka Papillo on this special day. His exceptional skills on the field, humble disposition and philanthropic nature are just a few of the reasons why we love Kanu.
Here are a few facts you may (not) know about the golden boy of Nigerian football:
1. He is a retired Nigerian footballer who played as a striker.
2. He was a member of and later captained the Nigerian national team for 16 years from 1994 until 2010.
3. Kanu has won a UEFA Champions League medal, a UEFA Cup medal, three FA Cup Winners Medals and two African Player of the Year awards.
4. He is a UNICEF ambassador.
5. Kanu was instrumental in Nigeria’s overall success at the 1993 FIFA U-17 tournament in Japan and their subsequent 2–1 victory over Ghana in the final.
6. He is the founder of the Kanu Heart Foundation, an organisation that helps predominantly young African children who suffer from heart defects.
Happy birthday, Papillo! You have made us proud!
Are you a fan of Kanu Nwankwo? Let us know your favourite things about him in the comment section below.
