Date Of Article: 3/12/2003
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Kanu not coming
By: Leonard Sharra
Despite expressing willingness to come for the hair-raising Africa Cup of Nations first leg tie against Malawi at Chichiri Stadium on March 29, Nigeria’s English based striker Nwankwo Kanu has been left out of foreign-based players list called up for the game. According to a report aired on BBC’s Network Africa, Kanu’s name is missing on the list of 12 foreign-based players called up for the Blantyre clash. The Arsenal forward’s persistent absence on the English defending league champions’ starting line up has been given by the Nigerian Football Association as the reason for leaving him out on the list. The list includes notable faces such as Hungary-based Julius Aghahowa, Bolton Wanderers’ Jay Jay Okocha and French-based John Utaka. The Nigerian FA’s decision has shattered the dreams of Kanu who, according to a Nigerian newspaper This Day of February 24, was getting ready for the encounter after suffering a thigh injury during training at Arsenal’s Shenley Training Centre in London. “Our doctors have assured me that I will be able to resume training within seven to 10 days .. But as of now I’m still in the dark (whether) I’ll be invited for the match against Malawi or not. But once I get the invitation I’ll be ready to honour it if for nothing else but to prove to all that I still love playing for my country. “The only thing is that they (Nigerian FA) should make their plans known on time so that we, the foreign-based players, will be able to clear it with our managers and also make proper travel plans,” the player was quoted in the paper, posted on the web. The paper also quoted Kanu as insisting that his lack of regular first team opportunities with the English defending champions would not adversely affect his performance against the Flames. “I might not be playing regularly for Arsenal but I’m fit because I train regularly with the team. And after the injury heals I will still have about two weeks to prepare for the Malawi match,” he was quoted as saying. Asked whether the news that the deadly striker was not making the trip had caused excitement in the Flames camp or not, assistant coach John Kaputa simply said: “We are preparing for Nigeria and not individuals. We are not concerned who is coming or not. What we know it is Nigeria that are coming.” The Flames resumed training in Blantyre on Monday after a weekend recess. They are expected to leave today by road to Zimbabwe for two friendlies against that country’s national team over the weekend. Apart from the Super Eagles, the Flames other opponents in their group are the Palancas Negras of Angola, who share a point each with the Eagles. Malawi top the group with three points from a single win against Angola.
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