This site is supported by the advertisements on it, please disable your AdBlocker so we can continue to provide you with the quality content you expect.

Togo footballers shot in ambush

Discussion in 'International Football' started by Aido82, Jan 8, 2010.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Aido82

    Aido82
    Expand Collapse
    JFT96

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2007
    Messages:
    5,827
    Likes Received:
    28
    Gunmen have fired on a bus carrying Togo's football team to the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, wounding players and reportedly killing the driver.

    The attackers opened fire with machine guns on the vehicle in the oil-rich territory of Cabinda, where rebels have been fighting for independence.

    The Angolan government called the incident an "act of terrorism". There are reports of serious injuries.

    Togo is due to play its first cup game in Cabinda on Monday.

    Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor was on the bus but is unhurt. In a statement, Manchester City said Adebayor had been "shaken by the terrible events" but was "unharmed".

    The bus was travelling to Cabinda from the squad's training ground in the Republic of Congo when the shooting happened.

    "This was an act of terrorism," Cabinda affairs minister Bento Bembe told Reuters news agency.

    Competition officials said they had not known that the Togolose team had decided to drive directly to Cabinda.

    They said they had expected the squad first to fly to the Angolan capital, Luanda, and from there to Cabinda.

    Shot 'like dogs'

    The head of the Togolese football federation told AFP news agency that the driver had died.

    Togo striker Thomas Dossevi told France's RMC radio that several players were "in a bad state" after the attack.


    "We were machine-gunned, like dogs," he said. "At the border with Angola - machine-gunned! I don't know why. I thought it was some rebels. We were under the seats of the bus for 20 minutes, trying to get away from the bullets."

    The identities of those injured - who also included team staff - are not known.

    Togo are due to play Ghana, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast in their group matches. Their first game is against Ghana.

    Midfielder Alaixys Romao told RMC Togo were now likely to pull out of the 16-nation tournament.

    "No-one wants to play," he said. "We're not capable of it.

    "We're thinking first of all about the health of our injured because there was a lot of blood on the ground."
     
    #1 Aido82, Jan 8, 2010
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2010
  2. Anfield Old Boys

    Anfield Old Boys
    Expand Collapse
    Subscriber

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2008
    Messages:
    5,192
    Likes Received:
    184
    Thread on this already
     
  3. carpe diem

    carpe diem
    Expand Collapse
    Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2008
    Messages:
    3,937
    Likes Received:
    0
    jesus christ thats shocking stuff.
     
  4. REDHEART

    REDHEART
    Expand Collapse
    Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2007
    Messages:
    1,391
    Likes Received:
    53
    thats a bit crazy.would'nt blame the togo players if they did'nt play now.
     
  5. Wicklow Red

    Wicklow Red
    Expand Collapse
    Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2007
    Messages:
    337
    Likes Received:
    33
    sport is meant to unite people, its pure evil
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page