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NWANKWO KANU    Africa’s most decorated footballer

Born: 1 August 1976
Died: Still Alive
Location: Born Owerri, Nigeria; currently Portsmouth, England

Kanu began his career aged 15 in his native Nigeria. A notable performance at the U17 World Champrionships led to him being signed by Ajax Amsterdam in 1993. He played 54 times scoring 25 goals before going to Internazionale in Italy. In 1996 he signed for Inter Milan.

A month after he had captained Nigeria to Gold at the 1996 Olympic Games, Kanu broke the news to his parents he needed open heart surgery. “God is in control,” they reassured him. Kanu wondered “Why me?” He had just transferred to Inter Milan when the electro-cardiogram showed a major problem with his heart. “My footballing career isn’t over,” he said defiantly. “I am going to the best specialists in the world and then I’m going to play again. My dreams seemed impossible, but nothing is impossible with God.” Kanu was told if he ran around a football pitch again with his enlarged heart he would kill himself.

Kanu went to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in the USA and had a new aortic valve fitted in November 1996. By May 1997 his cardiologist announced that Kanu is stronger now than he was before the operation. By the summer of 1998 Kanu was back playing World Cup football for Nigeria. However, Inter Milan had filled the front line so Kanu accepted Arsene Wenger’s offer of a four year deal at Arsenal. He transferred for a fee of £4.5million. He soon became a Highbury favourite with the fans often singing “He’s tall, he’s black, he’s had a heart attack!”

He created in August 2000 the Kanu Nwankwo Heart Foundation which helps others with cardiac problems. In 2001 the charity brought 5 children a month to top hospitals in Europe from Africa for life-saving heart surgery. The charity plans to establish five specialist hospitals in several African countries and dozens of clinics in Nigeria. His charity allows him to express both his gratitude and his faith in Jesus Christ.

In 2004 Kanu married the Igbo beauty bride Amarachi. He left Arsenal the same year having scored 30 goals in 119 appearances for the north London club. He had a two year spell at West Bromich Albion before joining Harry Redknapp’s Portsmouth in 2006. In his second season at Portsmouth, Kanu scored in both the FA Cup 1-0 semi-final win against West Bromwich Albion and the 1-0 win in the final against Cardiff City, earning him a third FA Cup winner's medal. Kanu is the most highly-decorated African footballer in footballing history.

IN HIS OWN WORDS:

“All that I have, my skill, my life – it is a gift from God.”

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