Nigeria have issued a dramatic recall to the three players expelled from the African Nations Cup for indiscipline.
Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro, Portsmouth striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Victor Agali from Scahlke 04 were sent home last Friday.
But after Nigeria qualified for the quarter-final stage with victory over Tunisia on Wednesday, coach Christian Chukwu said the trio had been recalled.
The three are expected to return before Sunday`s clash with Cameroon.
"The suspension has been lifted," said Chukwu.
"The players made mistakes. They asked the country to forgive them and the country has forgiven them. If they want to come back, they can."
All three were told to leave the squad last Friday after breaking strict curfew
rules.
A plea by the players to Sports Minister Musa Mohammed was rejected by the former military officer who insisted that discipline would not be compromised.
But now the trio have been pardoned.
The decision to bring back the three players will enrage Ayegbeni`s club coach Harry Redknapp.
"This news has come completely out the blue - and I don`t think Yakubu will be that keen on going back there to be honest," said the Portsmouth boss.
"But I wouldn`t want to influence his decision. It`s entirely up to him."
Redknapp added: "He is not one for breaking curfews and Yakubu has said the reasons given which have appeared in the newspapers are completely untrue.
