Arsenal forward Nwankwo Kanu has been saved a Fifa ban after he apologised for staying away from a recent African Nations Cup qualifier in Angola, officials said on Tuesday.
”Kanu called to apologise for not featuring in the match against Angola and has promised there will be no repeat,” said Taiwo Ogunjobi, secretary-general of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA).
”He was repentant of his action, saying it was not a deliberate attempt to undermine the team.”
”He has also offered to hold a press conference to publicly apologise for what happened.”
The 25-year-old forward has been under fire from both fans and the press for snubbing the Angola game, which ended in a 0-0 draw two weeks ago.
The player was duly released for the game by his English Premiership side and flew into Nigeria but eventually did not join the team in Luanda.
He reportedly claimed he had difficulties connecting a flight to Angola.
Kanu would have been banned by Fifa for at least five days had the NFA formally complained to the world soccer governing body on the matter. – Sapa-AFP