Okocha will be away preparing for the Africa Nations Cup at a training camp in Tunisia, where the tournament is being played.

He is due to leave Bolton shortly after the match against Manchester United on January 7.

Allardyce is incensed at losing such a key player at a key stage of the cup competition.

“I am quite saddened that Jay Jay Okocha won’t play in the semis,” he said.

“Him having to go off to the Africa Nations Cup does leave me bewildered.

“The fact is, I can’t have my skipper for one of the most crucial games in the history of this club which could get us to Millennium Stadium.

“That for me shouldn’t happen. It is an outrageous situation for us to be in.

“It’s a great shame for him and a great shame for us. We could pay a heavy price.

“We have battled all the way from start to finish to get to this stage of the competition, beating Southampton and Liverpool.

“We really don’t want to be left with that dilemma and rest of the lads will enjoy playing in that game. Hopefully they don’t pay the price of not having Jay Jay.”

Okocha will at least be around for the festive fixture period, with Bolton facing Arsenal on Saturday, then Liverpool and Leicester before the new year.

Allardyce’s side are gaining momentum and the Carling Cup run is a bonus after four wins in the last six Barclaycard Premiership games, including defeating Chelsea at the weekend.

Henrik Pedersen, who had a hand in the winner at Stamford Bridge, secured Bolton’s passage to the last four with a goal in extra time.

It was cruel luck on Saints goalkeeper Antti Niemi, who made a string of superb saves.

Allardyce said: “I thought we were going to have to play until the morning to beat that keeper.

“In space of first 10 minutes he pulled off three world-class saves, but we are very pleased to be going through.”

Saints manager Gordon Strachan praised his team for their fighting spirit in the second period.

“We were very poor in the first half. We gave the ball away too easily,” he said.

“We were too fragmented and I made a couple of changes which changed the game for us.

“We looked physically and mentally stronger and we got into the stride of things and did very well from that point on.

“The players came back from the first half and put on a great show. I thought that in extra time we were the team that was going to win the game.

“Our fitness is good, our character is good – we are all right.

“There was a lot of good football being played, but it was just unfortunate we didn’t get the breaks.”