Wenger looks to Africa for help

2001-12-31 14:24

London - Table-toppers Arsenal are to ask the national associations of Nigeria and Cameroon for help in their bid to lift the Premiership title.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger requested the two countries allow key players Kanu and Lauren to stay in London for the crucial Highbury clash with Liverpool on January 13 - seven days before the start of the African Nations Cup finals in Mali.

Wenger is resigned to losing Kanu and Lauren to their national sides for up to a month, a period in which Arsenal face tough away tasks at Leeds and Blackburn plus a likely fourth round cup tie.

But he is desperate to keep them on board for the meeting with Liverpool, who will be looking to avenge last Sunday's Anfield defeat by the Gunners.

Wenger said: "I think I will be talking to the African federations some time on Monday and I will tell them both players want to stay here for the Liverpool game.

"That still gives them a week to go to their first match in the finals and it is not as though they are lacking match-fitness and need preparation, unlike some players in the national squads whose domestic fixtures are over."

Wenger is publicly optimistic he will have his stars available for Liverpool even though he was embroiled in a bitter row with Nigeria over Kanu's release for the last African Nations Cup finals two years ago and the Olympic Games tournament last year.

But asked whether he expected Cameroon to be any easier to deal ith over Lauren's release he admitted: "Not really. I believe they have a certain way of doing things."

Not unnaturally, both players are keen to represent their countries in the African Nations Cup especially as they have been told that performances in Mali will have a strong bearing on the make-up of the respective squads for next summer's World Cup finals.

And under Fifa rules, both Nigeria and Cameroon have first call on their players for major international events. So Wenger is heavily dependent on African goodwill. - Sapa-AFP

- SAPA