Super Eagles striker Nwankwo Kanu is the African Cup of Nations tournament's star attraction.

Yet the current African Footballer of the Year, who is reported to be earning £40,000 a week at London Premiership outfit Arsenal, nearly had to give up the game completely a few years ago.

Shortly after captaining Nigeria to the Olympic title in Atlanta in 1996, the year he won his first African Player of the Year award, he was diagnosed with a serious heart ailment.

He underwent a successful heart operation in the United States, and soon returned to playing.

Yet knee trouble and a disappointing 1998 World Cup suggested his best playing days were behind him.

Arsenal move

However, his transfer from Italian giants Inter Milan to Arsenal in January 1999, for about £4.5m, has resurrected his playing career.

The move to London led to a string of stirring performances and spectular goals - including a superb hat-trick as Arsenal overcame a 2-0 deficit in the final 15 minutes to beat Chelsea.

He has recently signed a new three-year contract with Arsenal, reflecting how well he has proved his long-term fitness in the wake of his health problems.

And since his emphatic arrival at Highbury he has been handed the national captaincy - even though he has not played for the national side since the World Cup finals.

Nigerian fans will be hoping that a rejuvenated Kanu can inspire the Super Eagles to be crowned champions, come 13 February.