Disgraced Nigerian stars head back to Europe

Chelsea's Celestine Babayaro, Victor Agali of Schalke 04 and Portsmouth's Yakubu Aiyegbeni were all making their back to their European clubs after being kicked off Nigeria's African Nations Cup squad.

Team officials told AFP that Aiyegbeni could even be involved in the second half of Portsmouth's English Premiership clash against Wolves later Saturday.

The rest of the Super Eagles squad had earlier asked the sacked trio to stay at the team hotel here despite an order that they quit camp immediately with the hope that the authorities will have a change of heart.

All three were told to leave the squad after breaking strict curfew rules and were accused of indiscipline.

"They broke camp rules. They were supposed to be in bed after team prayers on Thursday night but they were not. They only returned to the hotel early in the morning," said Nigerian Football Association general secretary Taiwo Ogunjobi.

A plea by the players, led by skipper Jay Jay Okocha on Friday to Sports Minister Musa Mohammed was rejected by the former military officer who insisted that discipline will not be compromised.

Nigeria will play a make-or-break Group D match against South Africa later Saturday in the Nations Cup.

The Eagles, two-time winners of the championship, need a result against the group leaders to stay on at Tunisia 2004.

While Nigeria and Benin are pointless after the first round of games, South Africa and Morocco have recorded three points apiece with Bafana Bafana on top having scored more goals.