Chelsea block Babayaro move

Babayaro (right) in action for Nigeria

Chelsea have refused a request by the Nigerian FA for Celestine Babayaro to join a pre-Olympics training camp next month.

But they will not attempt to prevent him competing in the tournament itself in Sydney.

Babayaro was named alongside Arsenal striker Kanu in Nigeria's provisional squad for the Olympics in September, a tournament for Under-23s plus three over-age players.

The Nigerian FA asked for the 21-year-old Chelsea left-back to be allowed to join their training camp on 6 August, before the start of the domestic season, but were given a firm refusal.

Assistant boss Gwyn Williams resigned to losing Babayaro

But while Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has indicated that he will attempt to block Kanu's involvement in the Olympics, Chelsea accept that there is nothing they can do to stop Babayaro taking part, even though he will be away for up to seven weeks.

Chelsea assistant manager, Gwyn Williams, said: "We knew about the situation in January and there is nothing we can do about it."

Babayaro is therefore scheduled to leave England after Chelsea's away game at Aston Villa on 27 August, but if holders Nigeria were to reach the final, he would not be available again until the game against Sunderland on 14 October.

Babayaro revealed the Nigerian FA want him to captain the team at the Olympics.

"I've been there before. I was part of the team that won the gold medal at Atlanta in 1996," he said.

"At the end of the day, I play for Chelsea and at the same time I play for the national side of Nigeria. This is the A side but I'll just have to wait and see what happens.

"They all want me to play. But I don't have a choice though, it's a national call-up and that's just how it goes."