. Kanu

By ADRIAN MWANZA –
AFRICAN football legend Nwankwo Kanu has said the Chipolopolo shocked Nigeria with their all-round solid play in the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Uyo over the weekend.
Nigeria won the game 1-0 and qualified to the World Cup but Kanu, like most Nigerians, were left in awe at how a young Chipolopolo side took on the Nigerians just a year after playing poorly in Ndola.
Kanu said this yesterday upon arrival at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) for a tour with the Emirates FA Cup trophy-tour in Zambia.
Kanu is also expected to conduct football clinics in the country as part of trophy tour.
Kanu, a two-time winner of the English FA Cup, is brand ambassador of the competition in Africa.
The former Arsenal striker said despite Zambia crashing out of the World Cup race, the team accounted for itself well and showed just how bright the future of Zambian football is.
“We did not expect such a performance from Zambia.We were expecting to beat them badly but they came at us, played so well and sent panic in us.  We were shocked,” he said.
He said the Chipolopolo coach should be proud of the team because they put in their best and that they are the future of African football.
And Kanu expressed his wish to see an African team reach the final at the Russia 2018 World Cup saying that dream was long overdue.
The best an African team has gone at the FIFA World Cup has been to the quarter-final.
And on what it takes to break into Europe, Kanu, who is one of Africa’s most decorated players, said African players need to double their input as the European leagues were highly competitive.
“It is not easy for African players to make it in Europe, the secret is just to work hard and even get an education,” he said.