Babayaro - hoping to start. (Allsport)

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Nigeria coach Festus Onigbinde is keeping wayward star Celestine Babayaro guessing about whether his delayed arrival in the Far East will cost him his World Cup starting berth.

Babayaro only joined the squad on Monday after Onigbinde issued the defender an ultimatum to join up with the squad by then or miss out on the tournament completely.

The 23-year-old Chelsea star has only just recovered from a groin problem after undergoing treatment in England, and was able to train normally on Tuesday.

But, even though he now believes Babayaro is fit, Onigbinde is refusing to commit on whether he will pick him in the starting line-up to face Argentina.

"He's been training fully, and if I had to judge him on that I would say he is well enough to play," said Onigbinde

"But that is if I consider it necessary to put him in the team. I have not decided on that yet."

Babayaro himself was hopeful: "The coach has not said anything about whether I'm going to start against Argentina.

"He did ask me how I was feeling, which is a bonus, because it shows he is concerned.

"Fingers crossed, I'll be in the starting eleven on Sunday."