Former Super Eagles' captain, Nwankwo Kanu, has been appointed as Nigeria's football ambassador by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The country's football governing body revealed this development in a statement on Thursday.

NFF president, Aminu Maigari, explained in the statement that the FA took the decision for the country's football.

“We made the decision in the interest of Nigeria football. Kanu surely deserves it, and we are very happy that he has accepted”, said Maigari.

Kanu's role as Nigeria's football ambassador will be to be involved with the national teams.

The former Ajax Amsterdam man is also expected to play an advisory role to the NFF in football matters.

Kanu would also be engaged in international liaisons and representations for the federation "whenever he is called upon to do so."

The 35-year-old, who was present at the official announcement of an international friendly football match between Nigeria and Argentina in Lagos on Wednesday, is the most decorated Nigerian footballer.

At present, Kanu plays for Portsmouth in the English second tier but has previously won laurels at the topflight in Holland and Italy and in the English Premier League.

He has also played at three Fifa World Cup finals for Nigeria, in 1998, 2002 and 2010, and led the Under23 team to Africa’s first football gold at the Olympics in USA in 1996.

Kanu made his debut for the Nigerian men's senior team on May 5, 1994 in a friendly game against Sweden.

The Super Eagles lost that game 1-3 in Stockholm, while Kanu was left out of the 1994 Fifa World Cup finals.

His last match, against South Korea at the 2010 Fifa World Cup finals in Durban, South Africa, tied him on Nigeria’s all-time appearances with the late Mudashiru Lawal (86).

Papilo as he is nicknamed has scored 13 goals for Nigeria in his 86 appearances.