Everton have lost their battle to be allowed to play Steven Pienaar in tomorrow's Carling Cup semi-final first leg at Chelsea.

David Moyes, the Everton manager, had previously invoked the 14 day rule and insisted the South African international would not have to travel to join up with his country's African Cup of Nations squad until Wednesday.

Moyes' view was that Fifa regulations did not make it clear whether players should be released 14 days ahead of the start of the competition, or 14 days ahead of a specific country's first match.

The tournament starts in Ghana on January 20, but South Africa's first match is not until January 23 against Angola. Pienaar was expected to fly to Pretoria on Sunday, but trained with Everton at their Finch Farm complex today.

But by mid-afternoon, South Africa had formally asked Fifa to intervene, and Everton were told to release the midfielder immediately.

An Everton spokesman confirmed: "Steven will be going to London today, but not to Stamford Bridge. He will be flying out from Heathrow. We have been contacted by Fifa and told he has to be released by us ahead of the Chelsea match."

Earlier, David Moyes, the Everton manager had risked the wrath of the South African FA by keeping the player in England

“We have looked carefully at the rule and it is not clear whether the 14 days applies to the first match for South Africa or the opening date of the competition,” Moyes said. “We believe that 14 days should apply to South Africa’s first match. I have spoken to the South Africa manager [Carlos Alberto Parreira] and they are clearly not pleased.

“But we have invoked the 14-day rule and intend to use Pienaar against Chelsea. That to my mind means that he can then join up with South Africa within the 14 days. We pay the players' wages and believe we are within our rights to keep him here to play against Chelsea in the first leg.”

However, Everton have been given permission by Nigeria to keep Ayegbeni Yakubu and Joseph Yobo in England to play against Chelsea.

The Merseyside club are hoping Yobo can prove his fitness as he recovers from a foot injury while Moyes will also recall Tim Howard, Tim Cahill and Phil Neville for the match.

Mikel Arteta (suspended) and Leon Osman (broken foot) are not available for the trip to west London.