MANDELA XI coach Jomo Sono has blasted Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger for not releasing Nigerian striker Nwako Kanu for the Nelson Mandela farewell match on Tuesday. The South African Football Association (Safa) has stepped in and appealed to Fifa in an attempt to defuse the situation. The African World XI will meet FIFA World XI at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg in honour of the former state president, who stepped down from public office in June. Sono called Kanu one of the most exciting players from the African continent, and stressed the entertainment value of having him play for the Mandela XI. Safa is attempting to get nine players in all released from their clubs to play in the match.