… two members of soccer delegation die from deadly attack
|CABINDA, Angola (Reuters) – Togo’s players including Emmanuel Adebayor will return home after the country’s government announced they have pulled out of the African Cup of Nations following a deadly attack on the team bus in Angola.

“The Togolese government has decided to call back the team. We could not continue the African Nations Cup in this dramatic situation,” said territorial administration minister Pascal Bodjona.

“This was necessary because our players are in a state of shock and because we do not think the security which should have been placed around our players is giving the necessary guarantees,” he added.

The announcement came shortly after an Angolan government source said Togo’s team had agreed to take part.

However, such an outcome was rendered impossible by the refusal of the players to remain in Angola after coming under sustained gunfire for 30 minutes in the Cabinda province.

The bus driver, an assistant coach and press officer died in the attack, while there were conflicting reports over goalkeeper Kodjavi Obilale, who was shot in the chest and stomach.

Obilale was airlifted to South Africa and reports that he had also died have been denied by his French club Pontivy.

Earlier yesterday, Manchester City said that Adebayor “is on his way back from Angola”.

“The lines of communication between the club and Emmanuel have been open all day, we have spoken to his advisers and his girlfriend, and he is coming home,” City spokesman Simon Heggie said.

Aston Villa midfielder Moustapha Salifou described the attack in graphic detail on Aston Villa’s website.

“To be honest, I can’t sum up how I feel at this moment. My parents keep calling me from Togo every 30 minutes just to make sure I am okay and to see how things are going here,” he said.

“But we have made our decision as players. We can’t play in these circumstances and we want to leave for home today.”

Salifou said gunmen had opened fire on the bus 15 minutes after it crossed into Angola from Congo.

“The driver of the coach was shot almost immediately and died instantly, so we were just stopped on the road with nowhere to go.

“Our security people saved us. They were in two separate cars, about 10 of them in total and they returned fire. “The shooting lasted for half an hour and I could hear the bullets whistling past me. It was like a movie.

“I know I am really lucky. I was in the back of the coach with Emmanuel Adebayor and one of the goalkeepers. A defender who was sat in front of me took two shots in the back.

“The goalkeeper, Obilale Dodo, one of my best friends, was shot in the chest and stomach area and he has been flown to South Africa to undergo an operation to save his life.

“It was horrific. Everybody was crying. I couldn’t stay in control myself and I cried when I saw the injuries to my friend.

“I don’t know how anyone could do this. We were looking forward to playing football and to being together as a team. None of us can play football now.