Former Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu has thrown his weight behind FC Porto of Portugal midfielder, Kelechi Nwakali to make his mark at Arsenal.
Against the backdrop of Nwakali’s first senior national team call up, for Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Seychelles, ‘Papilo’ believes his former English Premier League club should begin to see the youngster as a kid for their future.
Nwakali is on loan at Porto from Arsenal, marking the third straight of such deals for the Chile 201 FIFA U17 World Cup winning captain, but Kanu is making a case for the lad to get a full run at Emirates Stadium.
Heading into Saturday’s AFCON 2019 qualifier in Seychelles, Nwakakli is remembered for his stunning goal in action for Nigeria’s Btyteam in a recent friendly against Atletico Madrid, and Kanu says the lad has come of age.
Consequently, Kanu has openly said he hopes Nwakali will get the chance to prove himself at Emirates Stadium, as he stressed that the youngster is a very player.
Nwakali has spent his first two seasons at Arsenal on loan with a couple of Dutch clubs, but Kanu believes the lad has the ability to make The Gunners’ main grade, judging by the progress the former Eaglets’ captain is making so far.
Kanu said: “Nwakali is a very, very good player. He is good. He played for Nigeria before the World Cup against Atletico Madrid. He scored a fantastic goal.
“He keeps playing, he keeps progressing and he keeps going. I keep advising him. I hope one day they will open the door for him to play for Arsenal.”
