Senegal assistant coach Alou Cisse has refused to say whether Newcastle duo Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse will be called into their Olympics squad.
The African nation booked their place in the Games for the first time on Monday night with a 2-0 win over Oman in Coventry.
On Tuesday they will learn who they will face in the group stages, knowing they have the option to draft in three overage players for the Under-23 competition.
Ba and Cisse would be obvious choices, even though the tournament clashes with Europa League qualifiers.
However, the good news for Alan Pardew is that they are not certain to be picked.
"It is important to play with the best team you can but I can't say whether they will be involved," said Alou Cisse.
"There are others who may come into the reckoning.
"It is true we are permitted to have three overage players under the rules. Let us not forget the players who have been in the team that has got us there.
"They are the ones who deserve to play in the tournament this summer, which is an historic event for our country."
