At the start of his career, Kanu was instrumental to Nigeria’s overall success at the 1993 FIFA U-17 tournament in Japan and their subsequent 2–1 victory over Ghana in the final.
Mwanzoni mwa uchezaji wake, Kanu ilikuwa muhimu kwa mafanikio ya jumla ya Nigeria katika mashindano ya FIFA ya U-17 ya 1993 nchini Japani na ushindi wao wa 2-1 dhidi ya Ghana katika fainali.