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Togo return talk intensifies

11 Jan 2010 - 07:53:52

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Emmanuel Adebayor's Togo could return to the Africa Cup of Nations despite being recalled from the tournament in Angola by their government.

Three members of the team's support staff were shot dead following an attack on their team bus on the eve of the tournament on Friday.

Following the gun attack in Angola's disputed northern enclave of Cabinda, the Togo government recalled the team from the competition.

"We have to mourn our dead," explained Adebayor. "We go back home to do this."

However, sports minister Christophe Padumhokou Tchao has hinted at a possible return to the competition later in the week.

"We have ordered a three-day mourning," he said. "The players are leaving with the bodies of their fallen brothers and we have asked the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to find an arrangement so we can catch up with the competition later."

Meanwhile, Adebayor has suggested that other nations could decide to leave the tournament in support of Togo.

He added: "I spoke with the captain and the Ivory Coast delegation and with the Ghanaians.

"They expressed their support by saying they were ready to leave the competition if we did.

"(But) at the end of the day, we realised that they were ready to continue. It is still a continent where a World Cup will take place in South Africa.

"We're going back and we wish good luck to those who will remain, especially to Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Ghana.

"What I have told their leaders is that they may be attacked at any time in Cabinda. I hope they will be cautious."