Ghana international Michael Essien will not play in Fifa's tsunami benefit match

The match between a World XI and a Europe XI is due to take place at Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium to raise money for the victims of the Asian tsunami.

Lyon added that their Brazil internationals Juninho and Cris will not be released for the match either.

The club's administrative director Marino Faccioli said: "We're facing a schedule of five matches in two weeks during that period.

"We have to protect our players."

The participation of the other top African footballers in the benefit match could be doubt as it coincides with the Caf awards scheduled for South Africa on the same day.

Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o Fils and Didier Drogba of the Ivory Coast have been invited to play in the match and have also been nominated for Caf's top award.

Meanwhile Fifa has also said that they will help rebuild the football infrastructure in the African countries hit by the tsunami.

Fifa deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne told BBC Sport that : "As a result of the flooding at the headquarters of the Seychelles federation, we are going to help them to rebuild and rehabilitate it." .

"Communication within Somalia is difficult therefore we will send a delegation there from 14 to 18 February to assess the damage to the football infrastructure.

"We can then determine the level of assistance to Somalia.

"Tanzania has not been deeply affected in football structure but we are still considering what help we can offer."