Fifa to discuss Kanoute

Kanoute wants to play for Mali

Tottenham are set to hear whether they will lose Frederic Kanoute for the African Nations Cup.

Kanoute stunned Spurs by announcing he wanted to join Mali's squad for the tournament, which starts in Tunisia on 24 January.

Fifa meets on Wednesday to consider Mali's application to register the 26-year-old striker.

A decision, due on Thursday, will be taken by Slim Aloulou, the president of Fifa's players' status committee.

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Six years ago Kanoute, who has played for France Under-21s, played for Mali in an unofficial friendly before turning his back on the African country.

Caretaker manager David Pleat said: "You cannot, in the end, go against a man's will.

"We want Kanoute to stay because we are fighting to improve our position, but we should not be relying on one man."

"Let me tell you that he is a gentleman, a Muslim and an honourable person. He has said to me: `I am not a boy. I am a man. You have to respect my feelings' - and I do respect his feelings.

"I do feel a bit aggrieved that we were not told about him using his Mali qualification when we signed him.

"We still thought he was French a few weeks ago when the France manager came to watch him play."

Meanwhile, Fifa president Blatter has already given his approval to Kanoute's plan to play for Mali.

"His case should be crystal clear: there would be nothing to stop him playing for Mali, once the players' status committee has confirmed his eligibility, if that is what he wants to do," said Blatter.

"Club managers and coaches would be well advised not only to observe international rules, but to stop trying to obstruct players' legitimate rights.

"Fifa will always defend those rights, even when adopting such a stance makes us unpopular."