Ahead of Saturday's crucial English Premiership clash against Arsenal at Highbury, Super Eagles captain Austin "Jay-Jay" Okocha left Cairo for London early Friday in a special jet sent by his club, Bolton Wanderers.

On the same flight were his Bolton team-mates El Hadji Diouf and Adboulaye Diagne-Faye, two Senegalese players who like Okocha, were also in Egypt for the Africa Nations Cup tournament.

Nigeria defeated Senegal 1-0 Thursday in the third-place match of the competition.

PANA learnt that, Okocha, who has announced his retirement from international soccer, was immediately taken to a separate hotel close to the Cairo International Airport after the Nigeria-Senegal match ahead of the flight to London.

Earlier in the week, another Bolton player, defender Radhi Jaidi of Tunisia, also returned to his English club after Nigeria knocked out his country in the quarterfinal of the Africa Nations Cup in Egypt.

The English club needs the services of the African quartet especially in Saturday's cracker against Arsenal.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles coach Austin Eguavoen believes Okocha still has a role to play in the Nigerian national team.

Speaking after the Nigeria-Senegal third place match Thursday, Eguavoen, said Okocha's exit now would create a big vacuum in the Super Eagles.

"(Wilson) Oruma and Mikel Obi still have a lot to learn from him (Okocha) in the next few years. Jay-Jay deserves a proper send forth and should not be rushed out of the scene because of his age," Eguavoen noted.

In his reaction, Okocha, 32, and who has played for Nigeria in the past 13 years, simply said: "I don't understand what is happening but we must plan towards our retirement one day. With this tournament which has ended without Nigeria winning the gold medal, what is important to me now is to go back to my club (Bolton) and perhaps, go home too, and rest with my family then other things can come later."