Togo to fight ban over Africa Cup pullout
Togo plans to fight its suspension from the next two editions of
the African Cup of Nations after its national football team
withdrew from last month's tournament following a deadly attack on
its bus.
Government spokesman Pascal Bodjona described the
Confederation of African Football ruling as "insulting" late
Sunday, adding that "Togo will use all available legal means to
fight the decision." He did not specify what steps Togolese
officials would take.
Togo pulled out of the African Cup after its team bus was
attacked by gunmen in Angola and an assistant coach and spokesman
were killed on Jan. 8, two days before the start of the tournament.
A separatist group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Togo team officials had at the time asked CAF to allow the
players to return home for three days of mourning before entering
the tournament at a later date. The request was denied.
CAF announced the ban Saturday, leading Togo captain Emmanuel
Adebayor to call for CAF president Issa Hayatou to quit.
"Mr. Hayatou has done much for Africa but now he must clear
off. This decision is monstrous," Adebayor said. "They're laughing
in everybody's face. (Togo President Faure Gnassingbe) sent us to
the (African Cup) to defend the colors of our nation. He judged
that the threat to our team had not been removed and called us back
to the country. We are only ambassadors. We had to go back."
However, Bodjona said Sunday that it was the players who had
asked to return to Togo.
"It was a case of an armed attack and our players requested
to be sent home," he said. "The Togo government therefore obliged."
Hans Mastro, a sports journalist on Togo national radio and
TV, said the ban was an inexplicable further assault on the team.
"The CAF decision is like opening fire on an ambulance,"
Mastro said. "First they hang a sword on Togo like an albatross,
now they decapitate or behead our football with a four-year ban."
Egypt beat Ghana 1-0 in the African Cup final on Sunday.