Chelsea receive Babayaro boost

Babayaro has been called up to play for Nigeria

Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro has been given the go-ahead to play in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final tie against Barcelona.

There were doubts Babayaro would be given clearance for the match, after he and Arsenal striker Kanu were called up by Nigeria to play in the first leg of their country's World Cup qualifier against Eritrea on Sunday.

With Fifa rules dictating that clubs must release players five days before competitive international games, both stars would have missed important European matches.

We are happy if an amicable arrangement can be reached between clubs and country.

Fifa spokesman

But Nigerian FA assistant general secretary Abu Bakar confirmed, on Tuesday, the left-back would be available.

"Celestine Babayaro has been given permission to play his match for Chelsea on Wednesday night before flying out to join the squad," he said.

Chelsea assistant manager, Gwyn Williams, confimred a compromise had been agreed late on Monday evening.

"We agreed at about 2200 GMT on Monday that he could play for us against Barcelona and we are hoping that everything will be okay," he said.

Arsenal and Chelsea were at loggerheads with the Nigerian FA before and after the African Nations Cup finals in January, when Kanu and Babayaro were both fined for arriving late back in London.

There was a further row between Chelsea and the Nigerian FA over Babayaro's call-up for a recent under-23 Olympic qualifier, with the defender pulling out of the squad through injury.

Although Babayaro now looks likely to be in the side to face Barcelona, he still seems certain to miss Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Newcastle at Wembley.

A Fifa spokesman said: "We are happy if an amicable arrangement can be reached between clubs and country.

"But the rule is clear that national associations are entitled to have their players five clear days before a World Cup match."