Africa was the centre piece of Christian Nwankwo Kanu’s early football career, his eyes were on entertaining the continent. Unfortunately, this soccer legend was neither able to win gold in Africa nor score a goal in a major continental championship.
Papillo was unknown until 1992 when he joined Iwuanyanwu Nationale from Federal Works United, Owerri. Kanu’s elder brother, Godwin, had played for Bendel United in the 1989 Winners Cup and the Benin side romped into the finals before losing to El Merriekh of Sudan. So the younger one wanted to follow his siblings footsteps.
At the end of the 1992 season, Stationery Stores won the National league. Shooting Stars of Ibadan finished as runners-up while Iwuanyanwu grabbed the third position. The Adebajo Babes thus qualified to represent the country in the 1993 CAF Champions League. Shooting picked the CAF Cup slot. However, the Naze Millionaires were lucky to see the Oluyole Warriors win the maiden CAF Cup.
The import was that since Shooting lifted the CAF Cup, they were going to defend it in 1993 thus creating space for Iwuanyanwu in the competition as Nigeria’s representatives. Unfortunately, it did not happen. The Nigeria Football Federation did not register the Owerri side early enough, the opportunity was lost.
Kanu was disappointed and wanted to join Stores to be able to play in the CAF Champions League since his hopes of playing in the CAF Cup with Iwuanyanwu were dashed. That move also ended in disappointment as the deal did not pull through.
Kanu stayed put in Owerri and got lucky in the 1993 season. Iwuanyanwu became league champions once again thus granting his wish of selling his talent to the African continent. And the team paraded stars who had won Nations Cup medals: Isaac Semitoje and Sunday Eboigbe. There were also Godwin Eke and Mike Onyemachara who had won FIFA Under-20 medals. World conquering 1985 Golden Eaglet, Chukwuma Nwoha, was there as well as two ECOWAS internationals, Ghana’s Benjamin Sellas and Umaru Kabbia of Sierra Leone.
That dream was not realized. Ajax, Amsterdam snatched Kanu at the end of 1993 thus creating a new dawn for the talented player. From Holland, there was no looking back. Laurels poured in torrents and Papillo made world headlines. He was bigger than Africa.
Being bigger than Africa suited his supporters but it is like Mother Africa vowed never to favour Kanu. It is difficult to explain how a player who took part in six consecutive Africa Nations Cup championships was unable to score a goal in full and regulation time. It is also sad that the same player did not win the Africa Nations Cup.
It sounds strange that Super Eagles won the Nations Cup in their last outing before Kanu’s debut in 2000. And the moment Kanu left, the team won their third Nations Cup trophy. Kanu ended up with one silver and four bronze medals.
We are talking of a player who was voted African footballer of the year twice, 1996 and 1999. He was also BBC African Footballer of the Year in 1997 and 1999 respectively. Talk about not scoring at Afcon in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 respectively. And this was the first African to play for Arsenal.
The tough luck in Africa manifested itself at the Mauritius ’93 African Under-20 championships. Kanu was part of the Nigerian team, Flying Eagles, handled by coach James Peters. It was a disaster as the boys crashed out in the first round after losing all their games. Papillo may yet forgive the coach for not using him.
When the young man moved out of Africa, he became a winner and superstar. At Ajax, Kanu won the Dutch League title between 1994 and 1996. In 1995, the club won the UEFA Champions League, the European Super Cup and the World Clubs Championships, the Toyota Cup. All these he did with compatriot, Finidi George.
The year 1996 was indeed special. Kanu led the Dream Team to win Africa’s first Olympic soccer gold medal. It was in grand style as the Nigerians defeated the best in the world, Brazil and Argentina, on the way to victory.
In 1998, Papillo lifted the European Winners Cup with Inter Milan. And this was after surviving heart surgery in the United States. When the world had given up on his splendid career, Kanu bounced back, stronger, better and more victorious.
That was what his move to Arsenal in 1999 showed. The Gunners won the 2002/2003 Premiership without conceding defeat. With the Londoners, Kanu won the English FA Cup twice, 2002, 2003. In 2008, he became the first African to win the FA Cup thrice. The last triumph came when he moved to Portsmouth from West Brom.
In the 2008 final, his 37th minute lone goal won the match for West Brom against Cardiff City. That victory came 60 years after the English club won their last FA Cup in 1939. In England therefore, Kanu began as the first African to join Arsenal and capped it all as the first African to score in the FA Cup final.
A legend indeed! The first Nigerian to play for the Golden Eaglets, Flying Eagles, Dream Team and the Super Eagles respectively. Kanu’s Eagles debut was in 1994, against Sweden in Stockholm. He earned 86 caps and scored 13 goals, retiring as captain in 2010. Papillo took part in two World Cups. He also bagged national honours twice.
What he could not win was the Africa Nations Cup. Kanu could not score a goal during play time at the Nations Cup. He remains a hero and was a special guest at the Egypt 2019 Nations Cup.
