Terror ... Togo's squad - including Manchester
City star Emmanuel Adebayor (back row, far right) - came under
attack
Manchester City's £25million star striker Adebayor, 25,
and Aston Villa midfielder Moustapha Salifou, 26, both play for the
Togolese national side.
A Manchester City club spokesman confirmed tonight that
Adebayor was unhurt in the attack. Togo and Nantes striker Thomas
Dossevi said shortly after the attack: "I'm OK but several players
are in a bad state.
"We are still at hospital. We were machine-gunned like
dogs. They were armed to the teeth. We had to remain hidden under
our seats for around 20 minutes to avoid the bullets.
"We had just crossed the border five minutes
before, we were surrounded by police buses, one in front of us
another behind. "Everything was fine and then there was a powerful
burst of gunfire.
"Everyone threw themselves under the seats and tried to
protect themselves but some couldn't escape the bullets. "It lasted
a good 15 minutes, the police fired back but really, it was hard to
handle and it still is now. I'm shocked.
"When we got off the bus we were asking ourselves why
us and not others? We were asking ourselves what had happened, we
were crying and thanking God."
The side are in the country for the African Nations
Cup, which kicks off on Sunday.
Togolese football federation vice president Gabriel
Ameyi said backup goalkeeper Obilale Kossi and central defender
Serge Akakpo were among those hurt.
Mr Ameyi said: "They should not have traveled by
road. They did not tell CAF (Confederation of African Football)
that they were traveling by road. They should have flown to
Angola."
Romanian side FC Vaslui confirmed Akakpo, 22, who
joined them from French side Auxerre last year, was shot and badly
injured in the attack.
A club statement said: "Badly injured in an ambush in
Angola, Serge Akakpo is now out of danger. "Akakpo was struck by
two bullets in the attack and has lost much blood. His condition
was stabilised by doctors.
"FC Vaslui have been in touch with relatives of the
player, who confirmed he has undergone surgery, which went very
well."
Midfielder Alaixys Romao admitted the players feared
the worst and thinks Togo are now likely to pull out of the
tournament. The Grenoble player said: "We're not thinking yet of
what could happen.
"But it's true that no-one wants to play. "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.
"For the moment there is not much news because they
have been taken to different hospitals.
"In cases like these we're thinking of those near us,
of those we love because that really could have been the end of
us."
Togo are scheduled to begin their cup campaign against
Ghana on Monday. Midfielder Richmond Forson claimed the number of
injuries would have been much worse had the gunmen not originally
fired on the wrong bus.
He said: "It was the bus carrying our baggage, which
was in front of us, which they fired on the most. They thought we
were in the bus in front, fortunately for us. That's what saved
us.
"Then they fired on our driver and those who were in
front. The windscreen was shattered by the first bullets. "It's
disgusting to take bullets for a football match."
A Togolese sports ministry spokesman said: "The Angolan
driver was killed on the spot," adding that the attack took place
in the Angolan region of Cabinda.
Following the attack, a Portsmouth FC spokesman said
the club would consider recalling its players from the African
tournament.
Portsmouth has Nwankwo Kanu with Nigeria, Aruna Dindane
with the Ivory Coast, and both Nadir Belhadj and Hassan Yebda in
the Algeria squad.
Club spokesman Gary Double said the club has asked the
English Football Association to seek assurances from world
governing body FIFA that Angola is safe for its players.
He added: "Our players' safety is paramount and if it
can't be guaranteed the players should be sent home."
