This would be great news, if it were true. Although Bergkamp is still optimistic about being fit in time for the FA Cup final, the Leeds match is a bit soon. So any injury to Wiltord or Henry will leave us short up front with Kanu in Africa.

Unfortunately it's TeamTalk that's reporting it. Other reports (Nigerian papers) suggested that Kanu has already left the UK to make his way to the match (our sources in Nigeria say he arrived in the country on Tuesday). But since then, there has at least been confirmation of the request from Arsenal. Quotes from Austin Mgbolu (one of the NFA's legion of spokesmen) suggest that they wanted the request to come from the player not the club.

And this report from News24 quotes an unnamed NFA official as saying (on Tuesday) that they will not release Kanu.

Midas Soccer are all over the place, declaring that Arsenal's bid to keep Kanu for Saturday has been successful, but going on to back this up with the same quotes as News24 (and others), in which the NFA official says "We will not compromise with Kanu's release and we therefore expect his club to comply with Fifa's directives on this matter."

The latest word from Arsenal themselves is also (still) that Kanu is not available for the Leeds match. See eg this report on Bergkamp's possible return. On Thursday 3rd, Arsenal's press office confirmed that Kanu will definitely not be playing against Leeds.

Kanu was one of several players reported to have asked to be left out of the Nigerian squad (see this report), so it's possible that the NFA just figured it was time to be a bit more diplomatic. Apparently some of the overseas players who asked to be left out are definitely going to the match, including JJ Okocha. This is despite last Thursday's sacking of coach Jo Bonfrere, who the players were said to be supporting.

Nigeria absolutely must win the match with Liberia (group leaders) if they are to have any chance of clawing their way to the top of the group.