CHRISTOPHER Kanu, younger brother of Arsenal’s Nwankwo Kanu, has been ruled out of Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier at home to Eritrea on Saturday after his Dutch club Ajax refused his release. Nigeria’s Dutch coach Jo Bonfrere tsaid that Ajax are holding on to the young defender after they received Nigeria’s application for the player’s release late. ”I spoke with the Ajax coach and he told me he can only release Tijjani Babangida for Saturday’s match while Christopher Kanu won’t be making the trip as our application for his release was made 12 days, and not the stipulated 14 days, before the match”, Bonfrere said. However, Christopher’s more famous brother, Nwankwo, is expected in the country Friday after Arsenal’s Uefa Cup semi-final match against French side Lens for the match against Eritrea. Two-time World Cup finalists Nigeria were surprisingly held to a 0-0 draw by minnows Eritrea two weeks ago in Asmara. The winner of Saturday’s match will qualify for the mini-league stage of the African zone elimination series for the South Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup finals.