Former Nigerian national football team captain, Nwankwo Kanu was on Wednesday a center of attraction at Nakivubo stadium as he attended the inaugural Star Times Cup match as the guest of honor.
The former Arsenal forward left the fans screaming and others begging for selfies as he juggled the ball; reminding them of his old days.
At the end of the game, fans were seen fighting to grab photo-shoots and begging for autographs with the 39-year old former Ajax (Netherlands) and Inter Milan star.
Autographs a ball
Uganda Cranes
The two-time African player of the year award winner (1996 and 1999) said he was impressed by the kind of play displayed by the Ugandan national team on Tuesday.
“It was a tough game because no one wanted to give out points easily. Uganda had more chances but never scored,” he said.
Handed a KCCA FC jersey
On Nigeria missing out on going to next year’s Afcon finals a slot taken by Egypt, Kanu said it was unfortunate.
“It is sad news for us and we have to go back to the drawing board and come back strong. We know we are a big country not to be in the Nations Cup but to be there one has to work hard. We need to go back and work harder.”
Commenting on his playing time while at English giants Arsenal FC, Kanu said his success at the club opened doors for more Africans to play and fly high in the English top league citing names like Manchester City’s Yaya Toure.
Kanu was dismayed by his national team’s exit from the Afcon 2017 qualifiers
“Before it was difficult for African players but now many are there because the more you do better the more you open doors .I remember when I was in Arsenal, the more I played well, scored goals and entertained them, the more they wanted to come to Africa to pick other players,” Kanu said .
Kanu with a SC Villa jersey
The UEFA Champions League winner was one of the ‘Invincibles’, the Arsenal side that finished the 2003-04 season of the Premier League unbeaten.
He played for the Nigerian national team from 1994 to 2010 having played 86 games in which he scored 13 goals for his country.