Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor has
revealed he sent his parents a text message saying he was about to
die in last month's terrorist attack on the Togo team bus at the
African Nations Cup in Angola.
Togo pulled out of the tournament after a gun attack on the team
bus left two people dead. And Adebayor revealed on Saturday: "I
sent texts to my mum and dad saying 'I'm going to die'.
"To explain what happened (on the coach) is difficult...you
can't imagine the sound of the bullets. "I have one more chance to
be alive - but what God has given to you he can take back.
The 25-year-old admits his recent subdued goal celebrations with
City are as a result of his changed outlook following the attack.
Prior to the attack Adebayor had celebrated goals enthusiastically,
notably on September 12 when he netted twice against former club
Arsenal at Eastlands and was fined £25,000 and given a suspended
two-match ban for his reaction.
He continued on BBC1's Football Focus: "When I came back to
Manchester City all the players were very nice to me - they gave me
more confidence. But I have a different perspective on everything
now. I'm happy to be alive.
"When I scored a goal before the joy came into my body, it was
an emotion. That's gone, I don't know why. I hope it comes back. "I
haven't lost my motivation for scoring goals but when I hear the
noise (of the crowd celebrating) it's not giving me anything inside
my body at all."
Togo were banned from taking part in the next two editions of
the African Nations Cup and hit with a fine following their
withdrawal from this year's tournament.
They have appealed against to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
against the decision, which has dismayed Adebayor.
He added: "We went to play in the African Nations Cup and
suffered a terrorist attack where two people died, our goalkeeper
is still in hospital and we don't know if he can play again, some
players have bullets in their body - and we got banned.
"Every single night I try to understand what is going on - but I
can't."