Jay-Jay Okocha has been given permission to join Nigeria late
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Nigeria are to allow their captain Jay-Jay Okocha to play an extra game for his club Bolton Wanderers, before he joins the rest of the squad ahead of the Nations Cup.
The English Premiership side, upset about losing their star
midfielder for the tournament, look certain to be able to field Okocha against Blackburn Rovers on 10 January.
The plan is that Okocha would then leave to join Nigeria at their Portuguese training camp on 16 January.
Nigerian coach Christain Chukwu is philosophical about the late arrival.
"In as much as we need these players, we have to understand that
their clubs can only release them 14 days before the start of Tunisia
2004," he said.
"We have to be seen as a responsible nation which observes
stipulated rules so that we do not create this club-versus-country
row.
"The decision to allow some of the players to come to camp
before the middle of January is not going to hinder our chances of
playing well at the Nations Cup.
"These players are professional players who understand what it
takes to do well at the big stage," he concluded.
Originally the Super Eagles had wanted Okocha on 19 December, which led Bolton boss Sam Allardyce to urge the Nigerian to quit his national side.
Okocha however has always maintained that he wants to play for Nigeria at the Nations Cup that kicks off in Tunisia on 24 January.
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MMIX
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