The Nigerian FA is demanding to know why star player Nwankwo Kanu missed the Super Eagles' opening Nations Cup qualifier against Angola on Sunday.

Nigeria's coach Christian Chukwu had to play attackers out of position in midfield to make up for his absence.

The Super Eagles were fortunate to come away from Luanda with a 0-0 draw.

Kanu's club side Arsenal confirmed that they had released the player for the game, but that he did not play.

Nigerian newspapers said he immediately travelled to his home town of Owerri.

Confusion reigns

What has angered fans and the FA is that Kanu was in Nigeria when the squad flew out to Luanda, and appears to have deliberately missed the plane.

Chukwu said that when he met with Kanu in London shortly after taking over as coach, the forward said he would report to the Nigerian camp for the match.

That was contradicted at the time by Nigerian FA secretary-general Taiwo Ogunjobi.

"Kanu is struggling to find his form and will not come for the match," he said, despite the fact that the striker played in Arsenal's first three Premiership matches.