Super Eagles forward Anayo Iwuala has hailed Arsenal legend Nwankwo Kanu as the greatest striker in Nigeria’s football history, Soccernet.ng reports.
Speaking in an interview with EaglesTracker, the former Enyimba FC star was tasked with ranking the five greatest Nigerian attackers of all time.
After initially listing his picks blindly, Iwuala rearranged the order to place Kanu at the top, ahead of 1994 Africa Cup of Nations hero Rashidi Yekini, Napoli striker Victor Osimhen (currently on loan at Galatasaray), Obafemi Martins, and Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
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Nwankwo Kanu’s illustrious career makes a strong case for Iwuala’s choice.
The former Super Eagles captain enjoyed success at every club he played for, including Ajax, Inter Milan, Arsenal, and Portsmouth.
His trophy collection includes a UEFA Champions League title, a UEFA Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, an Intercontinental Cup, three Eredivisie titles, three FA Cups, and two African Player of the Year awards, among others.
On the international stage, Kanu won the FIFA U-17 World Cup and led Nigeria to Africa’s first Olympic football gold medal in 1996. He also earned a silver medal and three bronze medals at the Africa Cup of Nations during his remarkable career.
However, despite Kanu’s accolades, many football enthusiasts regard Rashidi Yekini as Nigeria’s finest striker.
Yekini, who passed away in May 2012, remains Nigeria’s all-time leading scorer with 37 international goals, including strikes at two World Cups.
He famously scored Nigeria’s first-ever World Cup goal in 1994 and was the first Nigerian to win the African Footballer of the Year award.
Rasheed Yekini (Nigeria, Mitte) gegen Demetrio Albertini (li.) und Alessandro Costacurta (beide Italien); Rashid, Rashidi, Nigeria – Italien 1:2. Photo by IMAGO
Yekini also holds the record as Nigeria’s highest scorer in AFCON history with 13 goals and was the top scorer and best player of the 1994 tournament, where Nigeria clinched their second title.
