Kanu Would Have Made World Cup As Ambassador   
Written by Salifu Usman   

Nigeria skipper Nwankwo Kanu, would still have travelled with the rest of the squad to the 2010 World Cup as the 24th player and

Nigerian football ambassador in recognition of his contributions to the country had he been dropped by coach Lars Lagerback.

Kanu has been picked by Nigeria coach, Lars Lagerback, for his final 23-man squad for the World Cup in South Africa.

Kanu, 33, made his full international debut for Nigeria against Sweden in May 1994 in a friendly. He won a winners' medal at the 1993 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Japan. He then led Nigeria to an historic Olympic Gold in Atlanta in 1996 and will now feature at his third World Cup after appearances in 1998 and 2002.

He has said the 2010 World Cup will be his last  at international level.

However, top NFF officials exclusively informed MTNFootball.com that had Kanu been dropped from the final party to South Africa, the football association had already worked out a "Plan B", where the Portsmouth star would have served as one of several ambassadors at the tournament.

"Lagerback had warned us that Kanu may not be part of his plans for the World Cup when he took over the team because he said he will have no use for a player who can only give 15 minutes in a game. However, he was also told that Kanu has a winning aura and that was why he kept him on," a source revealed.

"But had it been otherwise, we would still have supported Lagerback's decision totally to drop him because we have always given him a free hand to do his job."

Another official gave a clear picture of the role Kanu would have played in South Africa had he been dropped.

"He would not have been registered as a player. But he would have been paid all the bonuses and allowances that will be paid to the 23 players selected for the tournament. He would have been one of our ambassadors," said the top official.

Former internationals Garba Lawal, Ike Shorunmu as well as former national team coaches Shuaibu Amodu and Christian Chukwu are the football ambassadors designated by the NFF for South Africa 2010.

Kanu will captain the side at his third World Cup, the Nigerian Football Federation said on Monday.

Kanu will captain the side at his third World Cup, the Nigerian Football Federation said on Monday.

After he flopped in the previous 2

omar22:


After he flopped in the previous 2

Did he actually flopped. In 1998, he played only one match and that was against Paraguay. Though, he played from mid-field position, yet he did well. 2002, he was simply injured in the first match against Argentina. That led to Nigeria's early exit.
By miles, not a flop.

Hmmmm, Uweh, are you now justifying his inclusion at the detriment of Anichebe?
Kanu may have done well in the past; but we are talking of present form.

I think we should analyze it in this direction

This would have been a very dignifying exit for Kanu.

There is no point being a captain of a team that you can not say if they are in trouble you can take it upon yourself to rescue them somehow. Kanu may wish to want to fight for the team but his body will fail him. He is no longer a kid.

I don't know if the Fifa deadline has elapsed. But if it has not Kanu can save this tricky situation by resigning and allowing Largerback bring one more fit player.

It is one thing to play in a 3rd world cup it is quite another to play in a 3rd world cup where you will watch your team go down and you like the energy to make the difference you would have ordinarily made.

Kanu was a great player, one of our most decorated players, but he must come to terms that his time is up.

*DEAD*