Enyimba FC chairman, Kanu Nwankwo famously known as “Papilo,” has called on the Super Eagles players to fully commit to their roles and deliver top performances for the national team.
Kanu, who enjoyed an illustrious career with the Super Eagles and in club football, made headlines as a two-time African Player of the Year.
His memorable contributions to Nigerian football include leading the team to Olympic glory in 1996, especially in the comeback victory over Brazil, where he scored twice to secure a place in the final.
Currently, the Super Eagles face a challenging path in the World Cup qualifiers, sitting 5th in their group with only three points from four matches.
Nigerian forward Paul Onuachu during the FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa, Photo | NG_SuperEagles
However, their journey in the AFCON qualifiers has been more promising, with 10 points from four games and just one point shy of securing a spot in the 2025 AFCON.
In an exclusive interview with Brila.net, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist highlighted the need for Nigerian players to approach national duty with greater intensity, stating that the responsibility doesn’t lie solely with the coaches.
According to Kanu, the players must bring the same—if not higher—level of commitment to the Super Eagles as they do for their clubs.
“They are very important. They can’t be doing well in their various clubs and then come to the national team they will not do the same. No.
“When you come to the national team you give more than what you give to the clubs. Kanu said. “You can’t wear that jersey and be slacking. If you’re giving your club 100%, give us 200%.”
Kanu stressed the importance of understanding the weight of the Nigerian jersey and the expectations of over 200 million fans.
He shared that, during his time, drawing a game felt unbearable, let alone losing.
“The players need to understand that that we may be talking about coaching all the time but they need to do more. From what I’ve seen in recent matches, they are improving, and they’re getting better,” he added.
