Nwankwo Kanu: I opened the English premier league to Africans

Nwankwo Kanu: I opened the English premier league to Africans

Thursday, February 18, 2016 8:16 am


Nwankwo Kanu: always a gunner

Nwankwo Kanu: always a Gunner

Seventeen years ago, a gangling Nigerian player, from Inter Milan  signed for English Premier League club, Arsenal.

He was Kanu Nwankwo and today marks the 17th anniversary of what proved to be a great signing for the club.

The 39-year-old has fond memories of his time in north London.

He said that his success with Arsenal paved way for more African footballers to play and thrive in the English Premier League. It also fired the interest of Africans in the league.

Kanu, who also played for Super Eagles and was in the 1996 Olympics gold winning squad,  helped Arsene Wenger’s men lift two Premier League trophies, two FA Cups during his five year at the club where he boasts of 44 goals in 198 games.

“I believe I was the first [African] person who came to England and did very well,” Kanu told Arsenal Player.

“After that, the doors opened for African talents so, with Arsenal behind me and what we did with Arsenal, everybody now tends to follow the English league.

“When I came over I saw a good coach who saw the best in me. I was a good player because he made it easier for me to play.

“Everybody believes that English football is all about playing the ball up, not keeping it on the ground, but Arsène has his own idea of football and it made it easier for us. He wanted us to play football the right way, he wanted us to enjoy it by passing the ball around and that’s what we did.

“It was very easy to adjust when you saw the fans. The supporters are behind you and they love you and what you are doing and that means you have to do more. If you keep doing more, they keep loving you and it was very easy for them to adopt me.

“I had the skills and the tricks the fans really love. When I left Arsenal I still had the fans on my mind and since then I’ve been supporting the club,” he concluded.

Before hanging his soccer boots, Kanu also featured for Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion.


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