 Arsenal want Kanu to stay a little bit longer |
A club-versus-country row over the release of players for the Nations Cup looks likely to dominate a Nigerian Football Association (NFA) board meeting in the eastern town of Owerri this weekend. English Premiership club Arsenal have been reluctant to release Nwankwo Kanu for the tournament, while Bolton are anxious to hang on to their skipper Jay-Jay Okocha for as long as they possibly can.
Kanu is to seek permission from the NFA to join the Nations Cup camp late so that he can play in his club's league match on 18 January.
Under Fifa rules, Nigeria can insist that the 27-year-old joins them next Thursday after they leave a training camp in Portugal.
"We don't want to get into a row with the overseas clubs but we want our players in time for the tournament," said NFA board spokesman Olu Amadasun.
Amadasun added: "The Fifa rules are clear. Clubs must release players to national teams 14 days before a major tournament." Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is hoping Kanu can persuade Nigeria coach Christian Chukwu to let him play for the north London club against Aston Villa.
"Kanu will sort out his own situation next week by talking to the Nigerian national coach," said Wenger on Friday.
"I want him to go to the African Nations Cup because I respect that players want to play for their country, but I want him to go as late as possible.
"I believe it is also ideal for Nigeria to allow him to play for Arsenal against Aston Villa because otherwise he would just be sitting in a pre-tournament camp and not playing competitively.
"However, if there's no agreement with Nigeria then we'll have to respect the rules and release him before the Aston Villa game.
"It is annoying for me that he will miss Arsenal's games, but I cannot complain because I knew when I signed him that he would go away for games in Africa."
MMIX
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If there's no agreement with Nigeria then we'll have to respect the rules 
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