Nwankwo Kanu
Nigerian footballer (born 1976)
Nigeria
Forward
Nwankwo Kanu: profile
Nwankwo Kanu (born 1 August 1976 in Owerri, Nigeria) is a former Nigerian footballer who played as a forward.
Kanu started out at Heartland F.C. in 1992. He played for 6 clubs in 4 countries between 1992 and 2012. The busiest spell of his career was at Portsmouth F.C. (2006–2012): 141 appearances and 20 goals. Across all recorded club spells he totals 409 appearances and 100 goals.
At international level, Kanu represented Nigeria (1994–2011), earning 87 caps and scoring 12 goals. Our match database lists 6 of his international goals; the first came against Eritrea on 22 April 2000 (World Cup Qualification). He also played for Nigeria at under-17 and under-23 level.
Owerri has produced 31 footballers in our database, including Kelechi Iheanacho, Paul Onuachu and Uche Okafor.
Key facts
- Senior international debut
- 1994 (aged about 18)
- First international goal
- 2000 – aged 23 (match)
- Club career
- 1992–2012 (21 seasons)
- Countries played in
- 4: Nigeria, Netherlands, Italy and United Kingdom
- Club goals per game
- 0.24 (100 in 409)
- Height
- 197 cm — taller than 99% of Nigerian internationals on record
- Latest move
- Portsmouth F.C. (2006)
- Shares a birthday with
- Fayçal Fajr, Junior Agogo and Lionel Mpasi (more)
Club career
| Years | Club | League | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992–1993 | Heartland F.C. |
Nigeria Premier Football League | 25 | 15 |
| 1993–1996 | AFC Ajax | Eredivisie | 54 | 25 |
| 1996–1999 |  Inter Milan |
Serie A | 12 | 1 |
| 1999–2004 |  Arsenal F.C. |
Premier League | 119 | 30 |
| 2004–2006 | West Bromwich Albion F.C. |
EFL Championship | 58 | 9 |
| 2006–2012 | Portsmouth F.C. |
EFL Championship | 141 | 20 |
| Total | 409 | 100 |
Appearances and goals are league figures where recorded on Wikidata; “–” means not recorded.
International career
| Years | Team | Level | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Nigeria U17 |
Under-17 | 6 | 5 |
| 1994–2011 | Nigeria |
Senior | 87 | 12 |
| 1996 | Nigeria U23 |
Under-23 | 6 | 3 |
International goals (6)
| # | Date | Match | Min | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 Apr 2000 | Nigeria 4–0 Eritrea | 89 | World Cup Qualification |
| 2 | 9 Jul 2000 | Liberia 2–1 Nigeria | 36 | World Cup Qualification |
| 3 | 27 Jan 2001 | Nigeria 3–0 Sudan | 82 | World Cup Qualification |
| 4 | 5 May 2001 | Nigeria 2–0 Liberia | 11 | World Cup Qualification |
| 5 | 26 Mar 2005 | Nigeria 2–0 Gabon | 81 | World Cup Qualification |
| 6 | 8 Oct 2005 | Nigeria 5–1 Zimbabwe | 80 (pen) | World Cup Qualification |
*Goals listed are those present in our match-by-match goal database, which is most complete for tournament matches.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Nwankwo Kanu?
Nwankwo Kanu was born on 1 August 1976, which makes him 50 years old.
Where was Nwankwo Kanu born?
Nwankwo Kanu was born in Owerri, Nigeria.
Which national team does Nwankwo Kanu play for?
Nwankwo Kanu played international football for Nigeria. He has 87 caps and 12 goals on record.
Which clubs has Nwankwo Kanu played for?
Nwankwo Kanu's recorded clubs are Heartland F.C., AFC Ajax, Inter Milan, Arsenal F.C., West Bromwich Albion F.C. and Portsmouth F.C..
How tall is Nwankwo Kanu?
Nwankwo Kanu is 197 cm (6 ft 6 in) tall.
What position does Nwankwo Kanu play?
Nwankwo Kanu played as a forward.
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Isaac OkoronkwoNigeria · b. 1978
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