Papilo Bows Out in Style: Football Stars Eto’o, Adebayor, Muntari, Song, Okocha and Eboue at the Kanu Nwankwo Testimonial Match
Posted on Monday, June 13th, 2011 at 4:18 PMBy BellaNaija.com
Kanu
Nigerian football international, Kanu Nwankwo officially celebrated his exit from international football with a testimonial match which took place in Lagos, Nigeria. According to the BBC, over 14000 fans braved rainy weather to watch their hero Kanu play alongside many of Africa’s greatest football stars including Jay Jay Okocha, Samuel Eto’o and Emmanuel Adebayor. Other stars on the pitch included Danny Shittu, Sulley Muntari, Rigobert Song, Emmanuel Eboue, Kalu Uche, Jean Makoun, Khalilou Fadiga, Anthony Baffoe, Sammy Kuffour, George Boateng, Joseph Yobo, Taye Taiwo, Herman Hreidarsson, Obinna Nsofor, Ikechukwu Uche and Yakubu Ayegbeni. Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola also made an appearance and hit the pitch in a Super Eagles jersey.
In the end, the Super Eagles beat a Rest of the World XI (Friends of Kanu team) – 3-1. Kanu played for both sides during the different halves of the match. He scored for the Super Eagles side.
After the match, Kanu made an emotional speech, he said “There’s a time to start and a time to finish, it has been a fulfilling ride from day one“. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Kanu Heart Foundation, the non-profit organization founded by Kanu which provides free life-saving heart surgery to underprivileged people with life threatening heart conditions.
Check out photos from the testimonial match below:
Nwankwo Kanu with Gov. Babatunde Fashola
Samuel Eto'o during the match
Regobert Song shaking hand with ball boys during the match
Samuel Etoo, Micheal Essien, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, Chairman, Capitol Oil and Coach Samson Siasia during the match
Regobert Song, John Utaka and Taye Taiwo during the match
Sule Mutari with Austin Jay Jay Okocha during the match
Peter Rufai contesting the ball with Emanuel Adebayor during the match
Obinna Nwaneri against Samuel Eto'o
Kalu Uche with Yakubu Aiyegbeni during the match
Finidi George against Emmanuel Eboue
Austin Jay Jay Okocha during the match
Friends of Kanu celebrating during the match
Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo State with Gov. Babatunde Fashola during the match
Photo Credit: Sylva Eleanya for Vanguard Newspapers
Information Source: BBC Sport
Tags: Kanu Nwankwo
He has great talents
http://www.face2faceafrica.com/
YES he has great talent! I’m happy that ALL these giants showed up to come celebrate Papilo!
SAMUEL ETO’O I SEE U!
Nice seeing SE legends play together once again. Nwankwo Kanu was a great footballer and i wish him all the best.
the match was fun to watch…
didnt lke Kanus hair style sha, was oo busy, but i love the fact he does a very good charity work… nice one
GOD BLESS KANU
Nice to see living legends and heroes play as one.
I wishhim all the best. I pray Jehovah continue to bless the heart fundation which he is using to save the masses whose hope would have been autho-death sentence.
its so nice seeing African super stars togeda like this having fun. next time they should wear shin guards even tho its a friendly game..lol and Kanu Nwankwo needs to end the Era of that silly hairstyle (unacceptable in this day and age )..
overall my boy etoo with his cute smile and sexy uche were lookin fly….
Nice pix
Pic 11 is actually Finidi and ‘Emmanual Eboue’ not Kuffour
I am truly sad i missed this match..looks like a load of fun. Kanu Nwankwor bows out as a true icon and i heard Fashola played well too.
this is intresting………. inmaging gov Fash on the pitch. God bless nigeria. eko o ni baje oooooooo
@ Bellanaija Staffers: Eboue against Finidi picture is captionned “samuel Eboue” The only Samuel there is Eto’o Eboue is Emmanuel…
Very very nice i wished I could have watch it
quite an interesting match….really funny. wished we had a league for this kinda players.
http://wwwnairahub.com
it sure looks like they had alot of fun!!
Happy retirement Papilo, naija loves u!!!
I’ve got a big smile on my face looking at these pictures. Seeing Gov’nor BRF on the pitch made it even better. Well done Kanu and may God prosper all your future endeavours.
CAMEROOOOONNNN
awww! gud seeing our gr8 Governor Fashola out der too! dis would have bn one hell of a match! gr8 2 c our gr8 african stars! they are d one thing i’m most proud of 4rm Africa! Welldone 2 Kanu! U hve indeed made us proud!
PAPILLO WE ARE PROUD OF YOU…
SOME DAY SOON YOUR SON TOO WILL MAKE NIGERIA PROUD.!!!
Aww, I almost shed a tear. Love his exit. may God bless him in his future endeavours. Amen.
http://temiville.wordpress.com/
Kanu is my true legend. He remained true to the very end. I love him pieces!!! May God richly bless your future endeavors.
@Kerosene, #gbagaun!!!!!!!
Fashola is such a great Leader….we need more of you as Governors
It’s nice to see Gov.Rochas standing side by side with Gov. Fashola.I just hope that he will learn some governing lessons from him. Imo state has not had any leader since the late Sam. Mbakwe left office.Yes, I said it!!!!
Okay, I’m intrigued! How old is Kanu?
Lola x, London
http://lola-x.blogspot.com
Awwww. So nice to see these guys hanging out and having fun. Gov Fash don clean up o. As in the guy don begin fine small small.
Aww my husband Regobert *seven banana* song! all of them are aging now…how sad!! gone are the days of GREAT african soccer! Matches were the entire country is on edge, houses burning down because women forgot pots on the fire to watch soccer…I miss those days
Nevertheless if all our leaders in Nigeria can have Kanu’s hair style and posses his heart type we will progress in this NIJA AREA.
I am so excited by the photos!
AWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
Kanu is a good man, may his well never run dry
amen
Kanu! You have finally quit and I wish you all the best.
I doff my hat to em…..FASHOLA!!!! Action Guv’nor!!!
Gov is the man of the people, he is the definition of government of the people,by the people and for the people…….. kanu deserves it, its a very lovely way of opting out of football.
Missed the match, but I like the camaraderie Kanu inspired…and my boy Eto’o repping Camer! The football milieu is gonna miss u, Kanu…
pls Eto come n marry me…..smiling…well don Papilo….love u…
Eto’o is already married with kids o!
buhahaha..u just broke her heart
He was indeed a favored man.
http://lifethroughomaseyes.blogspot.com
Fabulante!!!!!!!!! Bliss on their faces, nothing like a game to bring them together, Guv’nor u look splufick!
cool…..see finidi george…this is sure cloassic for us
Classic i mean
Well done papilo
Papilo, indeed u re good, may God continue to bless the work of ur hands IJN. i love u.
Ah in the 2nd to the last pic, Fashola did “Suck belle make shirt fine”…..lol
This looks like so much fun. A great player was honored well. I was just smilingas i kept scrolling down to yet another pic of naijas great talent.
Kanu una well done oh.
loooooooolllllllllllllllllllll
im fromm Camerounnn
lovely Eto’o n Nsong me likey
Lovely pictures, grand end 2 a wonderful, memorable nd prosperous career. Guv fashola such a gr8 leader.
May the days of Kanu be long. We love u, but God loves u more.
Fantastic performance & what a gud way 2 honor papilo by oda great players. I luv u guyz!
lovely
Kanu, you damn too much. God bless you. Wish 60% of Nigerian leaders have the kind of patriotism and dedication you have. Nigeria will be better than most western countries by now. Enjoy your retirement in glory. We all love you!!!
fantastic, kanu ur too much, may Almighty GOD, continue guiding and protecting u all de days of ur life, AMEN. 4 OKOCHA we re still expectin such 4rom uoooooooo
Ohhh!!! am touched by his speech “there’s a time to start and a time to finish”. Papilo, it hurts to see u finish dis memorable career, but God knows the best. May God continue to prosper u in ur future endeavous IJN Amen!! Carry go, Naijas love.
Kanu (Papilo) was and still is a huge blessing to Nigerian football. Who would forget his mercurial exploits at the 1993 Japan Under 17 youth championship , the Atlanta 1996 Centennial Olympics, Ajax 1995 Europe Championship, Arsenal Premiership and FA wins, Portsmouth FA cup win, series of African cup of nations medals, etc? How can anyone forget the young chap that won African Footballer of the year thrice which is a very rare fit and against all odds of health challenges? Kanu’s humility in great sucess is exceptional and worthy of emulation. He has honoured Nigeria in several ways and deserves the honour he got at his testimonial match. He was a worthy leader as the captain of Super Eagles. I wish you well and pray that God will continue to crown your endevours. Nigerians are really proud of you.
I’ve always liked Kanu Nwankwo….. always…..
http://www.fairygodsister.wordpress.com
wish u all de best in ur new appointment as a ‘special adviser on sport’.