February 6 – Thousands of people took to the streets of Lome today to protest against their national football team being banned from the next two editions of the African Cup of Nations.
Organisers and press reports said between 25,000 and 50,000 demonstrated in the capital against Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Issa Hayatou’s decision to ban Togo from the 2012 and 2014 tournaments.
Protesters brandished placards and waved banners denouncing the ruling and calling for the CAF president to resign.
Hayatou suspended Togo for “Governmental interference” in their decision to quit last month’s tournament in Angola after an ambush on their team bus left two members of their delegation dead.
The protesters end up in a stadium where a resolution was read out, describing Hayatou as “a shame to Africa”, and calling on all African countries to support Togo in its stand against CAF.
Togo captain and Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor has slammed the ruling as an “outrageous decision” and echoed calls for Hayatou, a Cameroonian, to step down.
The organisers of the protest in Lome say they will stage weekly demonstrations in different parts of the country until CAF reverses its decision.
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January 2010: Adebayor calls for Hayatou to step down after Togo ban
January 2010: Andrew Warshaw – Every fair-minded fan should protest against Togo ban
January 2010: Togo Government order players home from Angola after they claim they want to stay
January 2010: Togo goalkeeper airlifted to South Africa for emergency surgery
January 2010: Togo pull out of African Nations Cup after gun attack