Nwankwo Kanu loses £11,000 at Moscow airport during visit for pre-World Cup friendly game

FORMER Super Eagles skipper Nwankwo Kanu has just had $11,000 stolen from his suitcase at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport as he arrived in Russia to play in a pre-World Cup friendly match organised by Fifa.

Kanu, 41, who captained the Nigerian national team and played for Arsenal and Inter Milan, was robbed as he transferred to a flight to Kaliningrad at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport after arriving from London. Russian police said that they detained two baggage handlers who were unloading luggage from the London flight and stole the money from checked-in luggage.

Police spokeswoman Irina Volk, said: “The stolen money has been confiscated and will shortly be returned to its owner." Sheremetyevo witnessed a similar crime in March when a baggage handler was arrested and admitted stealing €56,000 from a package belonging to a Moscow bank.

Moscow and Kaliningrad will both host World Cup matches in the World Cup that will see thousands of international fans travelling between the 11 host cities. Starting from next Monday, fans with tickets can travel to Russia visa-free.

Later this week, the first teams will also start arriving in Russia. Kanu played in Kaliningrad in a special Relive the Legends friendly match on Sunday as part of a team of Fifa Legends team who featured against a set of Russian veterans, with Kanu’s team winning 6-4.