African Nations Cup opens in spectacular fashion as Togo fly home

By Duncan Mackay

January 10 – Togo’s team flew home from the African Cup of Nations tonight after the deadly ambush of their team bus but the country’s Sports Minister said they hoped to return to Angola, where the tournament got off to a spectacular start as Mali came from 4-0 with 11 minutes remaining against the hosts to draw 4-4.

A capacity crowd of 50,000 at the newly built Estadio 11 de Novembro in the Angolan capital Luanda were stunned into silence as Mali launched one of the great international comebacks of all-time to equalise deep into injury time after being seemingly out of the contest.

Earlier, fireworks display lit up the stadium, whose rims bend like the horns of the black sable antelope – Angola’s national symbol – and fans then observed a minute’s silence as a sign of respect for the Togolese and their bus driver who was killed by terrorists.

Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos denounced Friday’s attack by separatist rebels in the northern enclave of Cabinda, where the teammates were flying back to Togo with their two slain colleagues.

“We condemn this act of terror, but the competition will continue in Cabinda,” Dos Santos said as he opened the tournament.

“We are together, may the best man win.”

His Government and officials from the Confederation of African (CAF) had pleaded for Togolese authorities to allow the players to fulfill their wish to compete in the tournament to honour their slain colleagues.

Togo’s Prime Minister Gilbert Houngbo defended the decision to withdraw the team for the event, even though the players had claimed that they wanted to stay and play.

He said: ”Anybody that is involved in security matters will tell you that it would be irresponsible to just pretend that nothing has happened and just let the show go on.

“Security is non-negotiable.

“If there is a team or persons present under the banner of Togo at the opening of the African Nations Cup this afternoon, it will be a false representation.

“The team must return today.

“We understand the position of the players who want to in some way avenge their dead colleagues, but it would be irresponsible for the Togolese authorities to allow them to continue.”

Togo captain, Manchester City’s £25 million striker Emmanuel Adebayor, told reporters at Cabinda airport: “We have to mourn our dead, we’re going back to do so, that’s life and we’re obviously very sad.”

But Togolese Sports Minister Christophe Tchao added to the uncertainty by telling reporters in Cabinda that Togo had asked the CAF to find a way for the team to rejoin the competition later, where security has been greatly increased to try to ensure any further security breaches.

He said: ”We have ordered a three-day mourning.

“The players are leaving with the bodies of their fallen brothers and we have asked the CAF to find an arrangement so we can catch up with the competition later.”

Team media officer Stanislas Ocloo, assistant coach Amalete Abalo and a driver were killed when gunmen from the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) fired on the team bus in Cabinda, an enclave separated from the rest of Angola.

Seven people were wounded including reserve goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale, now in stable condition in a South African hospital after surgery.

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