While the heavy rains, which hit
Lagos on Saturday, June 11, may
have inconvenienced residents of
the city, keeping some of them
indoors; it did nothing to dampen
the spirits of football fans who
thronged the Teslim Balogun
Stadium to pay homage to Nigeria's
most decorated football player.
Even though parts of the city were
flooded by the rains, which came in
torrents, the scene outside the
Teslim Balogun Stadium from 3pm
when the rains had receded
resembled something of a bedlam
with fans jostling, pushing and
shoving to get into the stadium. The
atmosphere inside was no different
as security operative worked
frantically to bring the surging
crowd under control. No one could
blame them for their excitement; this
was the last time most of them
would see, Nwankwo Kanu, their
very own Papilo in flesh and blood.
The lanky star whose career had
seen him play for some of Europe's
leading clubs was calling time on an
international career that spanned a
little over one decade and half.
That career had begun with an
international friendly game against
Sweden in 1994 and had ended in
June 2010 after Nigeria's 2-2 draw
with Korea, which sent the Super
Eagles out of the World Cup.
In that span of time, Kanu titillated
Nigerian football fans and their
global counterparts with his velvety
football skills. In the colours of
Nigeria, Kanu was as committed as
he was for the clubs who splashed
thousands of pounds on him
weekly. He was at once a magician
and a warrior.
Appearing frail and lethargic, it was
easy to fall into the error of thinking
he was harmless. Opponents who
fell into that error paid dearly for it.
For within that frail body lurked a
mind as sharp as a needle and as
precise as a quartz watch.
A slice of genius
The Brazilians found this out this out
to their chagrin during the semi-final
of the football event Atlanta 1996
Olympic Games in the USA. With
Nigeria trailing the South Americans
3-1 with less than fifteen minutes to
the end, the Nigerian U-23 team
captained by Kanu began a fight
back with Victor Ikpeba making it
two for Nigeria on 78 minutes.
With the Brazilians bracing up for
the Nigerian challenge, Kanu, like a
general at a battlefield led the charge.
With the seconds ticking away on
90 minutes, Kanu, in a masterful
display of nerve and skill, picked up
a pass in the Brazilian eighteen with
his back to the goal deftly
outmanoeuvred his markers and
slotted the ball home for Nigeria's
equaliser. It was a beauty of a goal
that sent Nigerians worldwide
ecstatic. Four minutes later in extra-
time, he killed off the Brazilians with
a superb volley that sent Nigeria into
the final of the event.
That career came to an end on
Saturday and the turnout not only
of fans but of football stars who
came to do him honour is indicative
of the high regard in which he is
held. After all, it is not every day that
we see superstars like Samuel Eto'o,
Emmanuel Adebayor, Michael
Essien, Sulley Muntari, Rigobert
Song, Benjani Mwaruwari,
Emmanuel Eboue, Stephen Appiah,
Sammy Kuffour, Anthony Baffour
and Kolo Toure, showing in Nigeria.
Neither do we enjoy the privilege of
seeing our former stars like Finidi
George, Peter Rufai, Ike Shorunmu,
Uche Okechukwu, Mutiu Adepoju
and Austin Okocha in action in
Lagos. Kanu has paid his dues to
Nigeria and deserves ever accolade
he gets.

I thank God for his life, He has really done great for the Nigeria Team and the Country.

he is a general in the battlefield of football, the most decorated african footballer of all time.

hats off to dude... he did his thing... but i really he was going to play soccer till his dying days lol

BiGxGh, lovely pictures there.
Kanu, what celebrating in this part of the world. He has done Nigeria and in deed Africa's proud.

hilarious  pic.......Lol

The guy really did well for the country and continent.