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An exciting player combining speed and grace on the
pitch, Nigeria's Nwankwo Kanu is one of the most prolific
goal scorers in African soccer.
Kanu is a clever forward who reads the game extremely
well and uses his quickness and guile to outfox defenders
to get into scoring position. Once he gets sight of
goal, Kanu shows his true value with his clinical finishing
skills and pinpoint accuracy.
Born August 1, 1976, the 25-year-old forward already
has 10 years of club soccer experience to his credit.
Kanu made his pro debut at age 16 in the Nigerian first
division 1991. That same year, he played for the Nigerian
national team that won the FIFA World
Under-17 Championship in Japan.
After two seasons in Nigeria's domestic league, he
left home and signed with Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam
in 1993. He earned his first international cap for
Nigeria's senior side in 1994 against Sweden. Kanu was
an integral part of an Ajax squad that won European
Cup, European Super Cup and Inter Continental Club Championship
Cup honours in 1995.
He had a breakout year in 1996, scoring 13 goals for
Ajax as a starter, helping Nigeria win the Gold Medal
at the Atlanta Olympics, and being voted the African
Footballer of the Year - an award he would win for a
second time in 1999 while playing for Arsenal in
England.
He joined Inter Milan at the beginning of the 1996-97
season, but he never caught in Italy, failing to earn
a sport as first-team starter after suffering from a
serious heart condition. After two frustrating seasons,
he was sold to Arsenal and scored six goals in 12 games,
immediately endearing himself to the Highbury faithful.
Since then, Kanu has battled with a series of injuries
and has floated in and out of the starting lineup. Still,
he remains one the most popular players at the London-based
club, making key contributions on the pitch this past
season as Arsenal won the English
league and FA Cup double for the first time since 1998.
His ambitions for the World Cup - leading the Super
Eagles at least as far as the quarter-finals - are even
grander, considering that Nigeria has been pooled into
the "Group of Death" with Argentina, England
and Sweden.
"I think we can go far in the World Cup, farther
than we did in France," said Kanu. "I know
we have so many new players, and it will be difficult
for us, but we have to believe it."
With files from Associated Press
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