Fifa, world football’s governing body, forced Everton into an embarrassing climbdown last night in their conflict with South Africa, with Steven Pienaar ruled out of this evening’s Carling Cup semi-final, first leg against Chelsea so that he can fly to his homeland to prepare for the African Cup of Nations.

David Moyes, the Everton manager, informed Carlos Alberto Parreira, the South Africa coach, by phone yesterday morning that he would not release Pienaar until after the match at Stamford Bridge, claiming that, under Fifa regulations, he did not have to do so until 14 days before his country’s first tie in the tournament.

However, after a complaint from the South African FA, Fifa contacted Everton to make clear that the “14-day rule” applied to the start of the tournament on January 20, rather than South Africa’s first match three days later.

While Joseph Yobo and Yakubu Ayegbeni are free to play for Everton this evening before joining up with Nigeria in Spain, Pienaar must fly today to Durban to join the South Africa training camp, which began on Sunday. “The rules, in my view, do not stipulate exactly whether it is 14 days before the tournament or 14 days before South Africa’s first game,” Moyes said. “I fought tooth and nail for him [Pienaar]. I was not going to let it go without a fight.”

That statement reflects Everton’s determination to reach their first final since 1995, with Phil Neville, the captain, saying that lifting the Carling Cup for the Merseyside club would give him greater satisfaction than any of the trophies he won with Manchester United. “To be the Everton captain that leads the side out at Wembley would probably be the best thing that has happened in my career,” he said.

Neville, Tim Howard and Tim Cahill will return to the Everton starting line-up after missing their surprise 1-0 defeat by Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.