Headline:
Abia State government has officially confirmed the appointment of former Arsenal striker, Kanu Nwankwo, as the new chairman of Enyimba of Aba. Kanu replaces Felix Anyansi-Agwu, who served as the club’s chairman for an impressive 24 years.
The decision to dissolve the Enyimba board, led by Anyansi-Agwu, was made by Governor Alex Otti shortly after the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) Championship Play-off, in which Enyimba emerged as the champions of the 2022/23 season.
As the new chairman, Kanu, aged 46, is expected to lead Enyimba to success in both the CAF Champions League and the upcoming 2023/24 season’s league and Federation Cup competitions, which his predecessor had previously won on multiple occasions.
Kanu will be working closely with Finidi George, his former teammate from Ajax Amsterdam, who currently serves as the coach of Enyimba. Both players were part of the legendary team led by Louis van Gaal that clinched the UEFA Champions League title in 1995.
Kanu rose to national prominence in 1993 when he emerged as the top scorer at the FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Japan. Three years later, he captained Nigeria to a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics, delivering memorable goals, including the crucial semifinal strike against Brazil.
With a career spanning over 20 years, Kanu also had successful stints with clubs such as Inter Milan, West Bromwich Albion, and Portsmouth. He notably featured in the Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ team, managed by Arsene Wenger, that went undefeated throughout the entire English Premier League season.
