Arsenal v Nigeria over Kanu
2001-05-01 17:34
Lagos - English Premiership side Arsenal and Nigeria have again clashed
over the release of striker Nwankwo Kanu for this weekend's World
Cup tie against Liberia.
"Arsenal have asked we leave Kanu out of the World Cup match
(against Liberia) because they also need the player on the same day
for a league match," an official of the Nigeria Football
Association (NFA) told AFP on Tuesday.
"We will not compromise with Kanu's release and we therefore expect
his club to comply with Fifa's directives on this matter."
Kanu reportedly told Nigerian officials before last week's sack of
Dutch coach Jo Bonfrere that he will not be available for the
Liberia encounter.
Several international teammates of the Arsenal forward who have
also asked to be excluded from the World Cup qualifier appear to
have backed out of this decision.
Officials told AFP that captain Sunday Oliseh, Taribo West and
Austin "Jay Jay" Okocha have informed the NFA they will be
available for the match in the southern oil-city of Port Harcourt
on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Hansa Rostock striker Victor Agali is among the players
who began training for the match on Tuesday. Agali was ruled out of
the game against Sierra Leone a fortnight ago because of injury.
Officials said first choice keeper Ike Shorunmu of Turkish team
Besiktas is also fit after he being sidelined by a knee injury for
about a month. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA