Cruzeiro will be without forward Diederrick Joel for their Copa Libertadores match against Huracan on Tuesday after the Cameroonian was denied entry to Argentina.

The Brazilian club confirmed that the 21-year-old was sent back to Brazil by Argentina's federal police on Monday without having left Buenos Aires' international airport.

"Joel had to return to Brazil because he doesn't have a visa," Cruzeiro football manager Valdir Barbosa told Uol.

"I don't know what happened after that. He went into a room and, as I understand, the federal police ordered him to take the next return flight."

Joel joined Cruzeiro in December from Brazilian rivals Curitiba, where he scored eight goals from 20 matches in 2014.

He has represented Cameroon at under-17 and under-20 level, scoring nine goals in 11 appearances for his country.

Cruzeiro head Group 3 of the Copa Libertadores and need only a draw against Huracan to secure their passage to the knockout phase.

The Copa Libertadores is South America's premier club competition.