FORMER French champions Lens said on Friday that they are prepared to ignore Ghana’s demand that midfielder Alex Nyarko join his national side this weekend to prepare for the African Nations Cup.
A Lens spokesman said that they want to keep the 26-year-old until after their crucial relegation clash with Nancy on January 12.
“We are going to try and keep him for the longest amount of time possible even if we are not sure what will be the outcome,” said Lens administrative director Francis Collado.
Collado, who revealed that Nyarko has signed a two year extension to his contract to 2004, added that Nyarko does not want to play in the African showpiece, but that his federations has forced him to. Lens’ position echoes that of Arsenal’s over Nigerian ace Nwankwo Kanu.