Babayaro joins Nigerians on Friday

Celestine Babayaro will join up with the rest of the Nigeria squad on Thursday, according to his father.

The Chelsea full-back has been undergoing round-the-clock treatment with his club in a bid to take his place in Adegboye Onigbinde's line-up for the Group F opener against Argentina.

Alhaji Sabo Babayaro flew to London last week to help his son's recovery and confirmed to the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) the player would be in Japan by the Thursday deadline imposed by Onigbinde.

Onigbinde had originally told Babayaro to report to the Far East on Monday at the latest or lose his place.

"He (Babayaro senior) told us Celestine was yet to travel to Japan because he was receiving round-the-clock treatment from Chelsea medical staff," NFA spokesman Samuel Kaalu told Lagos daily This Day.

"He assured us his son would join his colleagues in Japan by Thursday at the latest."