Kanu to delay joining Nigeria squad

Nwankwo Kanu will delay joining up with the Nigeria squad in order to play for Arsenal against Aston Villa on Sunday.

Nwankwo Kanu will delay joining up with the Nigeria squad in order to play for Arsenal against Aston Villa on Sunday.

The striker had been due to join the rest of the Nigeria squad preparing for the African Nations Cup on Thursday, nine days before the start of the tournament in Tunisia.

But Arsenal wanted Nigeria to delay Kanu's departure as they have a shortage of strikers due to injury for the Villa game and manager Arsene Wenger confirmed tonight that Kanu would be available.

"He will go (to join the Nigeria squad) at the earliest on Monday and at the latest Wednesday."

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Wenger said there was a "small chance" that Kanu could also play in the first leg of Arsenal's League Cup semi-final against Middlesbrough at Highbury on Tuesday.

FIFA rules state that a club must release its players for international tournaments 10 days before the tournament starts.

Arsenal are without injured forwards Dennis Bergkamp, Sylvain Wiltord and Jeremie Aliadiere, but defenders Kolo Toure and Ashley Cole should be fit for the trip to Villa.