However, the Arsenal centre-forward limped out of an open training session in Maeshima, where the 23-man Nigeria squad were preparing for the match.

He had taken part in light stretching and running exercises before appearing to pull up and then, while the rest of the squad continued to train, Kanu limped to the sidelines where his left foot was packed with ice and then bandaged.

‘‘I know most of the England players so I’d like to play but I’m not going to be on the pitch - I can’t take the risk,’’ he said.

‘‘I was injured after 10 minutes against Argentina and then I came on as a substitute against Sweden and I shouldn’t have played then.’’

Nigeria cannot go through to the knockout stages of the World Cup, having lost their group matches against Argentina and Sweden.

However, Kanu believes the team can cope without him, adding: ‘‘For the people back home there would be a lot of satisfaction in knocking England out.’’

Nigerian defender Taribo West believes the reason for the squad’s failure at World Cup 2002 is that the players were unsettled by the sacking of former coach Shaibu Amodu in February after a disappointing African Nations Cup.

He believes the Nigerian Football Association acted hastily by changing coach so near the finals, despite employing the respected and experienced Adegboye Onigbinde in his place.

‘‘It has been disappointing but we lost our coach,’’ he said.

‘‘You can’t replace your coach just before a tournament and expect to win it.

‘‘The new manager can’t know his best team after just eight or nine weeks, and that is why we have suffered.’’