Nwankwo, Celestine in Nigeria's soccer squad

Lagos: Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu and Chelsea wing back Celestine Babayaro were on Thursday named in Nigeria's final under-23 soccer squad for the Sydney Olympics starting next month.

The duo were in the team that won gold at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, with Dutch coach Jo Bonfrere in charge.

Kanu, captain of the 1996 team, Roda Kerkrade striker Garba Lawal, also in the Atlanta side, and Paris Saint Germain defender Godwin Okpara, are the three over-age players in the squad.

Okpara and Lawal were on Tuesday invited to the team's training camp in the Netherlands by Bonfrere. The Dutchman has had difficulty in persuading the right quality of over-age players for the Sydney trip.

Under the Olympic soccer rules, three over-age players can be used in the tournament. All but three of the 22-man squad are with overseas clubs and 13 had been capped at senior level.

But while Chelsea said Babayaro will be released only for the duration of the Games, Arsenal insist that Kanu will not be allowed to go to Sydney.Ogbonna Kanu, the younger brother of the Arsenal striker, was also named in the 22-man squad.

The squad: Goalkeepers: Greg Etafia (Lobi Stars), Sam Okoye (Rangers), Eta Ijoh (Mehala)

Defenders: Godwin Okpara (Paris Saint Germain), Celestine Babayaro (Chelsea), Furo Iyenemi (FC Antwerp), Gbenga Okunowo (Benfica), Chikelue Iloenyosi (BT Berlin), Ogbonna Kanu (Ajax Amsterdam), Azubike Oliseh (FC Utrecht), Isaac Okoronkwo (Sherif Raspor)

Midfielders: Blessing Kaku (FC Genk), Bosun Ayeni (Lyngby), Bright Igbinadolor (Sporting Gijon), Sunday Johnson (Kwara United).Strikers: Nwankwo Kanu (Arsenal), Garba Lawal (Roda Kerkrade), Pius Ikedia (Ajax), Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Macabi Haifa), Victor Agali (Hansa Rostock), Julius Aghahowa (Esperance FC), Henry Onwuzuruike (SpVgg Greuther Fuerth).

(c) Reuters Limited.