Portsmouth forward, Nwankwo Kanu has advised Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo to focus on winning trophies with the team rather than celebrating the number of times he has been capped by Nigeria
Kanu spoke to journalists during the launch to raise N5 billion to build a hospital for cardiac treatment in Nigeria's capital, Abuja.
The 35-year-old expressed joy at Yobo equalling the 86-cap mark for appearances in the Super Eagles held by himself and Late Mudashiru Lawal.
But he pointed out that Yobo and his Super Eagles' teammates need to focus on winning trophies for the country.
“I think the first and most important thing is to make sure that your country keeps winning trophies. I am happy that he (Yobo) is (going to be) number one on caps. But like I said even if he is number one, the most important thing is where is Nigeria (in football)?" Kanu queried.
The Olympic gold medallist also believes that emerging as the most capped Nigerian player is not enough yardstick to determine success.
"Is Nigeria going up or down (in football)? Is Nigeria winning or not? If I tell you now that I am going to win 150 caps and my country wins nothing, am I going to eat my caps at the end (of my career)?” Kanu said in rhetoric.
Papilo as he is fondly called also recalled that he would have crossed the 86-cap mark but for Nigeria's absence from the 1998 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.
“To be honest I am happy for him and for what he has achieved because it is no small feat. But you know the good thing is that when I was playing I never looked at that (the number of appearances).
"Now I just remember that we didn’t go to South Africa ’98 when Abacha said we should not be there. I never looked back at that honestly. But until suddenly this (number of) caps stuff started coming up,” Kanu said.
Kanu during his career made 86 caps for Nigeria and won the Olympic soccer gold as captain of the Under-23s in 1996.
He is, at the moment, unarguably Nigeria's most decorated footballer having won the African Footballer of the Year award in 1996 and 1999.
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