London - Super Eagles captain, Kanu Nwankwo, and his fellow Nigerian, John Utaka, will today seek the British second most popular soccer cup, the English FA, they both go all out with their premiership side Portsmouth FC against Cardiff at the famous Wembley Stadium.

Kick-off time is 3.00pm British Standard Time with 39 years old Referee Mike Dean at the helm of affairs.

Kanu’s  Portsmouth are the only surviving Premier League team in this year’s FA cup, and will hope to to become the first club outside the English ‘Big Four’ of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United to lift the trophy since Everton in 1995.

On their part, Cardiff FC will be competing in their third ever FA Cup final. The team has not been impressive in the lower division, having ended the league season with a 3-0 home victory over Barnsley, their first win in four outings.
Pappilo, as Kanu is fondly called is the main man on whose shoulder Harry Redknapp, Portsmouth boss, puts his hope for a sweet return to the Fratton Park. Few days ago, the Pompey boss showered encomium on the Nigerian skipper, describing him as the king of African football, a kind of moral booster for the former Inter Milan player who is gunning for his second shot at the coveted trophy having won the tittle few years ago in the colour of Arsenal.

John Utaka has not been impressive with only one goal to show since Portsmouth’s 3-1 away defeat to Manchester City on 20 April.

Victory for the Pompeys today will add to the silverware of the Eagles captain which will make him the most successful Nigerian player ever, having won the English FA Cup, as well as the English Premiership, both for Arsenal; an Olympic gold medal, FIFA U-17 title, in addition to medals in the African Cup of Nations, capping it up with a senior World Cup appearance.

Nigerian soccer fans will therefore look forward to this encounter with their minds set on a successful outing for Pappilo and Utaka who, if fielded, will attempt to use the opportunity in convincing Portsmouth fans that they’re not a let down as they claimed a few days ago.

Portsmouth eliminated Manchester United in the quarter final before beating West Bromwich Albion in the semi-final, courtesy of Kanu’s single strike, while Cardiff put a stop to the fiery run of Barnsley ,winning the semi -final game 1-0 to set up this final duel.

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