Kanu is a fan of Brian Idowu’s inclusion

Nigeria’s official squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup has been known for a few days now, and as such, many fans and pundits from around the globe have been able to weigh in on what that means for the team. One such example is Nigeria legend Nwankwo Kanu, who has noted that he’s happy to see Brian Idowu making the final cut. Idowu, 26, has something of an advantage over his teammates in the sense that he plays his club football in Russia and was actually eligible to play for the host nation, however, he instead decided to stick with The Super Eagles as he moves forward with his international career. His experience in that kind of environment will likely be key for the team because while many of them do play their club football in Europe, nothing can really prepare you for the conditions involving Russian pitches and crowds. Idowu was born in Saint Petersburg to a Nigerian father and a Russian-Nigerian mother, and he actually moved to Owerri in Nigeria before transitioning back to life in Russia.

Brian Idowu – Nigerian National Player / Dziurek / Shutterstock.com

He started off in the youth setup with Zenit before moving to Amkar Perm in 2010, where he has remained for the last eight years of his career. He signed a contract last year that will keep him at the club until at least 2020, and when it comes to the national team, he’s only just starting his journey with them with just four appearances to his name. Idowu also made the headlines when he scored one of Nigeria’s goals in their 4-2 demolition of 2014 World Cup finalists Argentina. Kanu himself has had a tricky road to the tournament, too, having been robbed the other day just over a week prior to the tournament getting underway. Still, the Nigerians seem to be a tight unit, and with many legends backing them as they prepare for this adventure, it feels like there’s a real team spirit that can be felt throughout the African nation. While they may not be the most technically sound unit, they’re definitely capable of surprising people. As we look ahead, The Super Eagles will take part in their final World Cup warm-up game this afternoon when they square off against Czech Republic.

Idowu will likely feature in the game, and with the start of the tournament being just around the corner, it feels likely that he’ll play a big role in trying to help Nigeria get through Group D.