The Nigerian Football Association have indicated that Jay Jay Okocha can remain with Bolton over the crucial festive period.
Manager Sam Allardyce feared he would have to give his captain up on Friday to attend a training camp in preparation for the African Nations Cup.
But now it seems Okocha as well as other English-based players can delay their departure until January 9th.
Nigerian FA general secretary Taiwo Ogunjobi told The Vanguardnewspaper that the 42 invited players would report to the training camp in Faro, Portugal, with the exemption of those based in England.
Okocha and company, however, would then be expected to link up when the squad re-assemble next month for another training camp in Tunisia to begin their final preparations.
It is understood Ogunjobi is heading for England to talk to a number of clubs, including Bolton, to try to clarify Nigeria's position.
While Bolton admit they are powerless to prevent Okocha playing in the tournament, which runs from January 24th to February 14th, they are concerned about the amount of time he would be away in the build-up.
Now, however, he looks likely to be available for the matches against Arsenal, Liverpool and Leicester.