Togo withdraw from tournament

LUANDA - Togo have pulled out of the Africa Cup of Nations following a deadly gun attack on their team bus in Angola. The coach driver was killed and two players were shot and injured in the attack in the northern province of Cabinda on Friday. Organisers insist the tournament will go ahead and are stepping up security. But Togo midfielder told French paper L’Equipe: “We’re talking to the other teams in our group to try to convince them to boycott the competition too.” Togo were due to play Ghana in their opening match in Cabinda on Monday and the Black Stars players have confirmed they are happy for the tournament to go ahead. Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso are the other teams in Group B. Togo captain, and Manchester City striker, Emmanuel Adebayor said on Friday many players wanted to go home. He told BBC Afrique: “It’s a football game, it’s one of the biggest tournaments in Africa and a lot of people would love to be in our position but I don’t think anybody would be prepared to give their life. “If I am alive I can still play football tomorrow and in one year maybe even another Cup of Nations but I am not ready to pass away now. The driver of the Togo team bus was killed in the incident, while nine others were injured including two players, an assistant manager, physio, goalkeeping coach and another coach. Defender Serge Akakpo, who plays for Romanian club Vaslui, was hit by two bullets and lost a lot of blood in the attack in Angola’s oil-rich territory of Cabinda, which is due to host seven matches. Two of more die after ambushTwo members of Togo’s delegation died on Saturday following an ambush on the team’s bus as it travelled to the African Nations Cup in Angola, a team member told French radio. “We lost the assistant coach and the press officer,” said Messan Attelou, chief spokesman for Togo’s soccer federation. Ends