Togo pull out of African Cup of Nations
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Togo have pulled out of the African Cup of Nations following the gun attack on their team bus.
The squad was bombarded with terrorist gun fire on Friday as they travelled to their training camp in host country Angola.
An assistant coach, press officer and the driver were killed and many more wounded in an incident bound to overshadow the tournament, which starts on Sunday.
Defender Serge Akakpo was hit by two bullets and suffered heavy blood loss in the attack in Angola's oil-rich territory of Cabinda.
Reserve goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilalé was also wounded, while several other players required hospital treatment.
Togo were due to meet Ghana on Monday but will now boycott the event and players are now preparing to fly home to their prospective clubs.
Team captain Emmanuel Adebayor said: "It's a football game, it's one of the biggest tournaments in Africa and a lot of people would love to be in our position.
"But I don't think anybody would be prepared to give their life.
"If I am alive I can still play football tomorrow and in the future maybe even another Cup of Nations, but I am not ready to pass away now."
He added: "I don't think any of the players will be able to sleep after this.
"You cannot sleep after what we have seen — one of your team-mates with bullets in his body in front of you, crying and losing consciousness. We've seen death.
"It's one of the worst things I have ever been through. It was horrific."
The squad was bombarded with terrorist gun fire on Friday as they travelled to their training camp in host country Angola.
An assistant coach, press officer and the driver were killed and many more wounded in an incident bound to overshadow the tournament, which starts on Sunday.
Defender Serge Akakpo was hit by two bullets and suffered heavy blood loss in the attack in Angola's oil-rich territory of Cabinda.
Reserve goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilalé was also wounded, while several other players required hospital treatment.
Togo were due to meet Ghana on Monday but will now boycott the event and players are now preparing to fly home to their prospective clubs.
Team captain Emmanuel Adebayor said: "It's a football game, it's one of the biggest tournaments in Africa and a lot of people would love to be in our position.
"But I don't think anybody would be prepared to give their life.
"If I am alive I can still play football tomorrow and in the future maybe even another Cup of Nations, but I am not ready to pass away now."
He added: "I don't think any of the players will be able to sleep after this.
"You cannot sleep after what we have seen — one of your team-mates with bullets in his body in front of you, crying and losing consciousness. We've seen death.
"It's one of the worst things I have ever been through. It was horrific."
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