Nwankwo Kanu

Kanu in a friendly in 2017

Nwankwo Kanu (born 1 August 1976) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a forward. He was a member of the Nigeria national team, and played for Nigerian team Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Dutch side Ajax, Inter Milan of Italy, and English clubs Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth.

Quotes

• My country people, I say it and will say it again, I am not a politician, I am a footballer. Whoever is there, is just talking, spreading fake news about me saying that I asked you to go and vote for who and who and who. No. I don’t do such. My name is Kanu ‘Papilo’ Nwankwo and you know, all my life is about football.
  • 2023: Kanu denies endorsing any candidate. Premium Times (Nigeria), 28 January 2023.

• It’s very important to be happy with what you’re doing, and to me I’m very happy with what I’m doing because saving a life means a lot more than winning trophies. Trophies are good, but saving somebody who could die, giving them hope of a life, that means a lot to me.
  • Nwankwo Kanu: ‘Trophies are good but saving somebody who could die, giving them hope of life, it means a lot to me’. Independent, 6 August 2018.

• I like my privacy, and when I come out, I do so for a reason, and it has to be something that is worth it. That is when you can see me. That is why you don’t see me everywhere, especially social events. It is not everywhere you see Papilo, so you can say it is deliberate.
  • Why I plait my hair –Kanu. The Punch(Nigeria), 23 April 2016.