Togo withdraws from African Cup, 3 members 'dead'

Press TV, Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:04:20 GMT

An unidentified Togolese player is taken to an ambulance after the team's bus came under attack in Angola.
At least 3 members of the Togo soccer team as well as their bus driver have died after the team came under fire in Angola, forcing them to abandon the African Cup.

In addition to the unnamed local bus driver who perished on Friday, assistant coach Abalo Amelete, press officer Stanislas Ocloo and reserve goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale are said to have passed away, Goal.com reported Saturday.

On Friday, gunmen opened fire, using machine guns, on the bus carrying Togo's soccer team to the Africa Cup. Several players were wounded in the attack.

The shooting took place in Cabinda, Angola, after the bus crossed from the Republic of Congo, officials said.

Reports indicate that prior to leaving the country; the Togolese delegation had attempted to persuade Ghana and the Ivory Coast, two other teams based in the breakaway province of Cabinda, to quit the competition.

VA/MD

Driver dead, nine injuried in gun attack on Togo soccer team bus

    LUANDA, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) --

Gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying Togo's national soccer team for the African Nations Cup tournament in Angola on Friday, killing the driver and wounding nine, including two players.

    Togo officials confirmed the wounded players were Serge Akakpo, who plays for Romanian first division side Vaslui, and reserve goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale, who is with French fourth division team Pontivy.

    The other casualties were training, medical and administrative staff.

    The bus just entered the Angolan enclave of Cabinda, where a three-decade long war has been staging, when it came under heavy gunfire for several minutes.

    The Front for the Liberation of Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) claimed responsibility for the attack.

    The attack happened two days before the start of the 2010 African Nations Cup, and five months before the soccer World Cup in South Africa.

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said the tournament would still go ahead despite the attack.

    "Our first priority is the safety of the players but the tournament will go ahead," CAF spokesman Suleimanu Habubu said in Luanda.

    The Angolan government said it would beef up security so the tournament, due to run from Jan. 10-31 in four provinces including Cabinda, could proceed peacefully.

    Soccer's world governing body FIFA offered its "utmost sympathy" to the Togo team after the attack.

Editor: Zhang Xiang