Chelsea's Nigerian wing-back Celestine Babayaro has fallen ill and will miss his country's crucial World Cup qualifier against Ghana this weekend, national coach Jo Bonfrere said on Thursday.

"We have received a faxed letter from Chelsea saying Babayaro is sick and will not be released," Dutchman Bonfrere told reporters in the Togolese capital Lome, where the Nigerians are preparing for Sunday's match in Accra.

"We accept Chelsea's decision, but they must not use him for their league match this weekend. It would be foolish of them if they tried to use him because we won't take it."

Since arriving in Lome on Monday, Bonfrere has encountered a string of problems over the release of his 18-man squad, all of whom play for overseas clubs. Besides Babayaro, four of the squad were yet to report to the training camp.

Three of the four, Arsenal's Nwankwo Kanu and the Paris Saint Germain duo of Austin "Jay-Jay" Okocha and Godwin Okpara, were all involved in Champions League matches during the week. The fourth player, defender Ifeanyi Udeze, was being held back by his Greek club PAOK Salonica, Bonfrere said. Nigeria and Chelsea have clashed before over the release of Babayaro for international engagements.

Bonfrere said the four remaining players were expected in Lome on Thursday night before the team's departure to Accra by road on Friday morning.

With only the group winners advancing, Nigeria, on six points, and Ghana, who have three, both need to win on Sunday to stay in contention for a spot at next year's World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea.

Liberia, with nine points, are leaders in the group, wich also contains Sudan and Sierra Leone.