Emmanuel Adebayor, the former Arsenal and Real Madrid forward, recently shared his admiration for Nigerian football legend Nwankwo Kanu, whom he idolized growing up. In an interview with BBC, Adebayor revealed how joining Arsenal—where he wore Kanu’s iconic number 25 jersey and used the same locker—was a dream come true. The bond between the two has since grown, with Kanu now serving as both a mentor and best friend to the Togolese star.

Adebayor’s remarkable performance at Arsenal led him to win the African Player of the Year award in 2008, making him the only Togolese player to receive this honour. Reflecting on that year, he recalled, “In 2008, I was unplayable. To be recognised as Africa’s best player was huge – it’s something I’ll never forget.”

Although his move to Manchester City saw tensions rise with Arsenal supporters—highlighted by his memorable goal celebration against them—Adebayor holds his time at Arsenal close to heart, with Kanu’s influence remaining a cherished part of his journey.