Arsenal's Kanu to seek late link-up with Nigeria squad

Vincent. · Post by **Vincent.** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 5:19 pm

Arsenal's Kanu to seek late link-up with Nigeria squad

LONDON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu is to seek permission from Nigeria to join their African Nations Cup squad late so that he can play a premier league match for the English club.

Under FIFA rules, Nigeria can insist that the 27-year-old joins them next Thursday after they leave a training camp in Portugal.

But Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is hoping Kanu can persuade Nigeria coach Christian Chukwu to let him play for the north Londoners against Aston Villa on January 18.

The Nations Cup starts in Tunisia on January 24.

Arsenal strikers Dennis Bergkamp and Sylvain Wiltord are both injured and Wenger wants to keep Kanu for as long as possible before he misses up to four weeks of English football while on international duty.

"Kanu will sort out his own situation next week by talking to the Nigerian national coach," Wenger said 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 is no agreement with Nigeria then we will have to respect the rules and release him before the Aston Villa game.

"It is annoying for me that he will miss Arsenal games, but I cannot complain because I knew when I signed him that he would go away for games in Africa."

leftee · Post by **leftee** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 8:34 pm

Leave him out of the team if he reports that late. Why the morons sought to exclude Uche kalu and Opabunmi is beyond me.

muzines · Post by **muzines** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 8:36 pm

I support Kanu if Wenger promises to give him a new contract. I think that's why he's doing this, he want's to impress Wenger.

I don't blame him though.

bret- hart · Post by **bret- hart** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 8:38 pm

Leave him out of the team if he reports that late. Why the morons sought to exclude Uche kalu and Opabunmi is beyond me.

Thank you my brother

Post by **Waffiman** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 8:39 pm

The decision is not Papi's to make. It is up to CCC. My view is CCC should say if Arsenal's gain maens SE loss. QED.

omey2k4 · Post by **omey2k4** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 8:43 pm

Wenger is a *kindperson*!So na now em get Value for Kanu abi?Whats the use,i mean Kanu might as well just stay at higbury because he makes no difference on the team regardless.

Robbynice · Post by **Robbynice** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 8:45 pm

omey2k4 wrote:Wenger is a *kindperson*!So na now em get Value for Kanu abi?Whats the use,i mean Kanu might as well just stay at higbury because he makes no difference on the team regardless.

I was feeling you untill you got to the "he makes no difference on the team regardless" part. You head dey house so? :x

With that said, Kanu needs to get to camp soon. I will ring Kanu up today to see what's up with him. He needs to be in camp.

authority · Post by **authority** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 8:56 pm

Kanu need ANC more than anything now and to be in camp as soon as possible .Gone are those days when he was indispensible. There more productive players now in camp .If he does not report on time then CCC should drop him.

Post by **Waffiman** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 9:00 pm

omey2k4 wrote:Wenger is a *kindperson*!So na now em get Value for Kanu abi?Whats the use,i mean Kanu might as well just stay at higbury because he makes no difference on the team regardless.

Sharraaapppp dia one time!!!! If he nor go make difference why he wan keep Papi. You don see am play recently.

Egunje · Post by **Egunje** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 9:04 pm

Kanu is just wasting his time, he should report to camp immediately, Wenger will put him back on the bench once Dennis Bergkamp and Sylvain Wiltord are okay. He can go and impress at ANC to attract new clubs.

authority · Post by **authority** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 9:38 pm

Egunje you are the man , point well made .

Shownoja · Post by **Shownoja** » Fri Jan 09, 2004 9:45 pm

Irrespective of whether kanu needs a new contract or not, CCC should say no to further extention before he joins camp. If we start agreeing like this, we will find it very difficult in the future to insist on the enforcement of these rules which FIFA put in place to protect against these kinds of situations.