By Yetunde Adeyeri
Nigerian football legend, Nwankwo Kanu, “papiloo” as he is fondly called by Nigerians is a year older today. And to celebrate this amazing man who is not just a footballer but a role model to a million Nigerians, his wife posted a picture to celebrate him.
Kanu, who is 43 today is a Nigerian retired footballer who played as a forward. He was a member of the Nigerian national team. He 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 one of few players to have won the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, UEFA Cup, and an Olympic Gold Medal. He made the third-most substitute appearances in Premier League history, appearing from the bench 118 times, and is regarded as one of the best players in African football history.
He is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and African brand ambassador for digital TV operator StarTimes. He is also the owner of Kanu Sports TV, an Internet Sports Television which position to be the first indigenous sports TV in Nigeria, Kanu Sports Television.
He won 86 caps and scored 13 goals for his country and was the joint most capped Nigerian player of all-time alongside Muda Lawal, until Joseph Yobo surpassed both players in 2012, winning his 87th cap.
Kanu was quite active in his support for the Nigerian team in the just concluded AFCON where Super Eagles came home with the Bronze medal.
He married his wife Amarachi in 2004 when she was 18-years-old. The couple has three children together, two boys, and a girl. They celebrated their fifteen years wedding anniversary last month with this adorable picture.
Happy birthday to you Papilo.
Read what his wife has to say about this living Icon.
