Nwankwo Kanu

Date of birth01 August 1976
Place of birthOwerri
NationalityNigerian
Weight84 kg
Height1.93 m
PositionForward

A superstar of African football, Kanu overcame major heart surgery to become a key member of the successful Arsenal side following his move from Inter Milan in 1999.

He began at Fed Works and Iwuanyanwu in the domestic league and he starred in the 1993 African and World Youth Championships where his performances earned him a move to Ajax.

His international debut was not long after playing in May 1994 against Sweden.

He had a good career at Ajax culminating in a European Champions League winners medal in 1995.

He helped Nigeria to a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic games and won a big move to Serie A team Inter Milan immediately after.

His career was threatened by a serious heart condition which needed surgery to correct, but he forced his way back representing Nigeria in the 1998 World Cup Finals.

He signed for Arsenal in 1999 and became a vital member of their successful side.

He joined West Bromwich Albion in July 2004 with a three-year contract before moving on to Portsmouth in August 2006 on a one-year deal that was extended to June 2008 in August 2007 and to June 2009 in August 2008.

He then remained at Pompey on a monthly basis before agreeing a new one-year deal in September 2009.

His Pompey contract was extended to June 2013 in September 2010 before it was cancelled in July 2012.

Club history

Team Joined Left Loan / Trialist
Federation Works 01 Jul 1991 01 Jul 1992
Iwuanyanwu Nationale 01 Jul 1992 01 Jul 1993
Ajax 01 Jul 1993 01 Jul 1996
Internazionale 01 Jul 1996 04 Feb 1999
Arsenal 04 Feb 1999 30 Jun 2004
West Bromwich Albion 30 Jul 2004 30 Jun 2006
Portsmouth 17 Aug 2006 30 Jul 2012

Club stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1996-97 Rest of the World Representative
1
1998-99 Arsenal FA Cup
4
1
1998-99 Arsenal Premier League 5
7
6
1999-00 Arsenal FA Charity Shield 1
1
1999-00 Arsenal FA Cup
2
1999-00 Arsenal League Cup 1
1
1999-00 Arsenal Premier League 24
7
12
2
1999-00 Arsenal UEFA Champions League 4
2
1
1999-00 Arsenal UEFA Cup 5
4
2
1
2000-01 Arsenal FA Cup
1
2000-01 Arsenal Premier League 13
14
3
1
2000-01 Arsenal UEFA Champions League 11
3
2
2001-02 Arsenal FA Cup 3
2
2
2001-02 Arsenal League Cup 2
1
2001-02 Arsenal Premier League 9
14
3
2
2001-02 Arsenal UEFA Champions League 4
5
1
2002-03 Arsenal FA Cup 1
2002-03 Arsenal League Cup 1
2002-03 Arsenal Premier League 9
7
5
2002-03 Arsenal UEFA Champions League 2
6
1
2003-04 Arsenal FA Cup 1
2
2003-04 Arsenal League Cup 4
2
2003-04 Arsenal Premier League 3
7
1
2003-04 Arsenal UEFA Champions League 1
6
2004-05 West Bromwich Albion FA Cup 2
1
2004-05 West Bromwich Albion Premier League 21
7
2
2
2005-06 West Bromwich Albion FA Cup 1
2005-06 West Bromwich Albion League Cup 1
1
1
2005-06 West Bromwich Albion Premier League 17
8
5
2006-07 Portsmouth FA Cup
2
2
2006-07 Portsmouth Premier League 32
4
10
3
2007-08 Portsmouth FA Cup 5
2
2007-08 Portsmouth League Cup
1
1
2007-08 Portsmouth Premier League 13
12
4
1
2008-09 Portsmouth FA Cup
2
2008-09 Portsmouth League Cup
1
2008-09 Portsmouth Premier League 3
14
1
1
2008-09 Portsmouth UEFA Cup 2
3
1
2009-10 Portsmouth FA Cup
1
2009-10 Portsmouth League Cup
4
2
2009-10 Portsmouth Premier League 6
17
2
2010-11 Portsmouth FA Cup 1
2010-11 Portsmouth League Championship 13
19
2
2010-11 Portsmouth League Cup 1
2011-12 Portsmouth League Championship 3
7
1
2011-12 Portsmouth League Cup
1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

Club matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
27 Apr 1997 Europe v Rest of the World W 3-4 Representative


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1993-94 Nigeria International Friendly 1
1
1994-95 Nigeria International Friendly
1
1995-96 Nigeria Afro-Asian Cup of Nations 2
1
1995-96 Nigeria Olympics 2
2
1996-97 Nigeria Olympics 6
3
1997-98 Nigeria FIFA World Cup 2
2
1997-98 Nigeria International Friendly 2
1
1999-00 Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations 6
1999-00 Nigeria FIFA World Cup 2
1
1
2000-01 Nigeria FIFA World Cup 3
2
2
2001-02 Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations 4
2
2001-02 Nigeria FIFA World Cup 3
1
2001-02 Nigeria International Friendly 3
2002-03 Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations 1
2
2002-03 Nigeria International Friendly 2
1
2003-04 Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations 5
1
2003-04 Nigeria International Friendly 1
2004-05 Nigeria FIFA World Cup 2
2
1
2005-06 Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations 1
5
2005-06 Nigeria FIFA World Cup
2
1
2005-06 Nigeria International Friendly 1
2006-07 Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations 4
1
2
2006-07 Nigeria International Friendly
1
2007-08 Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations 2
2007-08 Nigeria FIFA World Cup 1
2007-08 Nigeria International Friendly 2
2008-09 Nigeria FIFA World Cup 1
3
2008-09 Nigeria International Friendly 3
2009-10 Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations 1
1
2009-10 Nigeria FIFA World Cup 1
1
2009-10 Nigeria International Friendly 1
1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
05 May 1994 Sweden v Nigeria L 3-1 International Friendly
25 May 1994 Romania v Nigeria L 2-0 International Friendly
16 Nov 1994 England v Nigeria L 1-0 International Friendly
12 Aug 1995 Nigeria v Egypt W 3-2 Olympics Africa 2nd round
21 Oct 1995 Uzbekistan v Nigeria W 2-3 AFRO-ASIAN CUP OF NATIONS 1st leg
10 Nov 1995 Nigeria v Uzbekistan W 1-0 Afro-Asian Cup of Nations 2nd leg
17 Mar 1996 Nigeria v Zimbabwe W 1-0 Olympics Africa 3rd round
21 Jul 1996 Nigeria v Hungary W 1-0 Olympics Finals Group D
23 Jul 1996 Nigeria v Japan W 2-0 Olympics Finals Group D
25 Jul 1996 Brazil v Nigeria L 1-0 Olympics Finals Group D
28 Jul 1996 Nigeria v Mexico W 2-0 Olympics Quarter-final
31 Jul 1996 Nigeria v Brazil W 4-3 Olympics Semi-final
03 Aug 1996 Nigeria v Argentina W 3-2 Olympics Final
17 Aug 1997 Guinea v Nigeria L 1-0 FIFA World Cup Africa 2nd round group 1
22 Apr 1998 Germany v Nigeria L 1-0 International Friendly
05 Jun 1998 Netherlands v Nigeria L 5-1 International Friendly
19 Jun 1998 Nigeria v Bulgaria W 1-0 FIFA World Cup Finals Group D
24 Jun 1998 Nigeria v Paraguay L 1-3 FIFA World Cup Finals Group D
28 Jun 1998 Nigeria v Denmark L 1-4 FIFA World Cup Finals 2nd round
23 Jan 2000 Nigeria v Tunisia W 4-2 Africa Cup of Nations Group D
28 Jan 2000 Nigeria v Congo D 0-0 Africa Cup of Nations Group D
03 Feb 2000 Nigeria v Morocco W 2-0 Africa Cup of Nations Group D
07 Feb 2000 Nigeria v Senegal W 2-1 Africa Cup of Nations Quarter-final
10 Feb 2000 Nigeria v South Africa W 2-0 Africa Cup of Nations Semi-final
13 Feb 2000 Nigeria v Cameroon L 2-2 (3-4) Africa Cup of Nations Final
09 Apr 2000 Eritrea v Nigeria D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Africa 1st round
22 Apr 2000 Nigeria v Eritrea W 4-0 FIFA World Cup Africa 1st round
17 Jun 2000 Nigeria v Sierra Leone W 2-0 FIFA World Cup Africa group B
09 Jul 2000 Liberia v Nigeria L 2-1 FIFA World Cup Africa group B
27 Jan 2001 Nigeria v Sudan W 3-0 FIFA World Cup Africa group B
10 Mar 2001 Ghana v Nigeria D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Africa group B
21 Apr 2001 Sierra Leone v Nigeria L 1-0 FIFA World Cup Africa group B
05 May 2001 Nigeria v Liberia W 2-0 FIFA World Cup Africa group B
01 Jul 2001 Sudan v Nigeria W 0-4 FIFA World Cup Africa group B
28 Jul 2001 Nigeria v Ghana W 3-0 FIFA World Cup Africa group B
21 Jan 2002 Algeria v Nigeria W 0-1 Africa Cup of Nations Finals Group A
24 Jan 2002 Mali v Nigeria D 0-0 Africa Cup of Nations Finals Group A
28 Jan 2002 Liberia v Nigeria W 0-1 Africa Cup of Nations Finals Group A
03 Feb 2002 Nigeria v Ghana W 1-0 Africa Cup of Nations Finals quarter-final
07 Feb 2002 Nigeria v Senegal L 1-2 Africa Cup of Nations Finals semi-final
09 Feb 2002 Mali v Nigeria W 0-1 Africa Cup of Nations Finals 3rd place
26 Mar 2002 Nigeria v Paraguay D 1-1 International Friendly
17 Apr 2002 Scotland v Nigeria W 1-2 International Friendly
16 May 2002 Republic of Ireland v Nigeria W 1-2 International Friendly
02 Jun 2002 Argentina v Nigeria L 1-0 FIFA World Cup Finals group F
07 Jun 2002 Sweden v Nigeria L 2-1 FIFA World Cup Finals group F
25 May 2003 Jamaica v Nigeria L 3-2 International Friendly
07 Jun 2003 Nigeria v Malawi W 4-1 Africa Cup of Nations Group 1
11 Jun 2003 Nigeria v Brazil L 0-3 International Friendly
26 Jul 2003 Nigeria v Venezuela W 1-0 International Friendly
27 Jan 2004 Nigeria v Morocco L 0-1 Africa Cup of Nations Finals Group D
31 Jan 2004 Nigeria v South Africa W 4-0 Africa Cup of Nations Finals Group D
04 Feb 2004 Benin v Nigeria W 1-2 Africa Cup of Nations Finals Group D
08 Feb 2004 Cameroon v Nigeria W 1-2 Africa Cup of Nations Quarter-final
11 Feb 2004 Tunisia v Nigeria L 1-1 (3-5) Africa Cup of Nations Semi-final
13 Feb 2004 Nigeria v Mali W 2-1 Africa Cup of Nations 3rd place
09 Oct 2004 Gabon v Nigeria D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Africa group 4
26 Mar 2005 Nigeria v Gabon W 2-0 FIFA World Cup Africa group 4
05 Jun 2005 Rwanda v Nigeria D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Africa group 4
18 Jun 2005 Nigeria v Angola D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Africa group 4
17 Aug 2005 Libya v Nigeria W 0-1 International Friendly
04 Sep 2005 Algeria v Nigeria W 2-5 FIFA World Cup Africa group 4
07 Oct 2005 Nigeria v Zimbabwe W 5-1 FIFA World Cup Africa group 4
23 Jan 2006 Nigeria v Ghana W 1-0 Africa Cup of Nations Group D
27 Jan 2006 Nigeria v Zimbabwe W 2-0 Africa Cup of Nations Group D
31 Jan 2006 Nigeria v Senegal W 2-1 Africa Cup of Nations Group D
04 Feb 2006 Nigeria v Tunisia W 1-1 (6-5) Africa Cup of Nations Quarter-final
07 Feb 2006 Nigeria v Ivory Coast L 0-1 Africa Cup of Nations Semi-final
09 Feb 2006 Senegal v Nigeria W 0-1 Africa Cup of Nations 3rd place
02 Sep 2006 Nigeria v Niger W 2-0 Africa Cup of Nations Group 3
08 Oct 2006 Lesotho v Nigeria W 0-1 Africa Cup of Nations Group 3
24 Mar 2007 Nigeria v Uganda W 1-0 Africa Cup of Nations Group 3
26 May 2007 Kenya v Nigeria W 0-1 International Friendly
02 Jun 2007 Uganda v Nigeria L 2-1 Africa Cup of Nations Group 3
16 Jun 2007 Niger v Nigeria W 1-3 Africa Cup of Nations Group 3
22 Aug 2007 North Macedonia v Nigeria D 0-0 International Friendly
08 Sep 2007 Nigeria v Lesotho W 2-0 Africa Cup of Nations Group 3
21 Jan 2008 Ivory Coast v Nigeria L 1-0 Africa Cup of Nations Finals Group B
27 May 2008 Austria v Nigeria D 1-1 International Friendly
01 Jun 2008 Nigeria v South Africa W 2-0 FIFA World Cup Africa 1st round group 4
07 Jun 2008 Sierra Leone v Nigeria W 0-1 FIFA World Cup Africa 1st round group 4
21 Jun 2008 Nigeria v Equatorial Guinea W 2-0 FIFA World Cup Africa 1st round group 4
19 Nov 2008 Colombia v Nigeria L 1-0 International Friendly
11 Feb 2009 Nigeria v Jamaica D 0-0 International Friendly
02 Jun 2009 France v Nigeria W 0-1 International Friendly
07 Jun 2009 Nigeria v Kenya W 3-0 FIFA World Cup Africa 2nd round group B
20 Jun 2009 Tunisia v Nigeria D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Africa 2nd round group B
06 Sep 2009 Nigeria v Tunisia D 2-2 FIFA World Cup Africa 2nd round group B
12 Jan 2010 Egypt v Nigeria L 3-1 Africa Cup of Nations Group C
30 Jan 2010 Nigeria v Algeria W 1-0 Africa Cup of Nations 3rd place play-off
25 May 2010 Nigeria v Saudi Arabia D 0-0 International Friendly
06 Jun 2010 Korea DPR v Nigeria W 1-3 International Friendly
22 Jun 2010 Nigeria v Korea Republic D 2-2 FIFA World Cup Finals Group B


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.