Just as his football career was about to pick up in 1993, after a wonderful performance at the U-17 World Championships, Kanu Nwankwo was diagnosed of suffering from a heart related ailment which many football lovers thought would cut shot his dream of becoming a superstar.

But miraculously, he survived the surgeon’s knife and today he is one of the influential footballers of all time.

The retired footballer fondly called Papilo today sits atop a multibillion business empire.

With the bulk of it in real estate and the hospitality industry, he is also a philanthropist especially with his Kanu Heart Foundation which caters for children with heart related ailments.

The former Footballer of the Year and UNICEF ambassador was the captain of the Nigerian national team for 16 years. He has won a UEFA Champions League medal, a UEFA Cup medal, three FA Cup Winners Medals, and two African Player of the Year awards 

From The Vanguard