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Togo soccer team attacked in Angola

Fri 8th, January 2010

Luanda, Angola (Sports Network) - The Togo national team bus was attacked on Friday as it entered Angola to participate in the African Cup of Nations, with two players injured and the driver killed, according to numerous reports.

Togo had just crossed the border into Angola when the bus came under fire, and goalie Obilale Kossi and defender Serge Akakpo were among those hurt. Togo's best player, Emmanuel Adebayor, was not injured.

"We were machine-gunned like dogs," Togo player Thomas Dossevi, who plays for French side Nantes, told Radio Monte Carlo. "They were armed to the teeth ... We spent 20 minutes underneath the seats of the bus."

"We were surrounded by police buses. Everything looked fine and we came under heavy fire," Dossevi told French TV channel Infosport.

"Everyone scrambled under the seats trying to protect themselves. It lasted at least a quarter of an hour with the police responding."

Togo midfielder Richmond Forson thought the team was lucky the gunmen attacked the bus carrying the team's equipment first.

"It was the bus carrying our baggage which was in front of us which they fired on the most," he told Canal Plus. "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."

Romanian club FC Vaslui said on its website that Akakpo was hit by two bullets and lost a lot of blood, but was not in life-threatening condition.

City coach Roberto Mancini commented on the attack on the club's website, and was glad to hear Adebayor and the rest of the players were OK.

"I am relieved and thankful to hear that Emmanuel is safe and well after this terrible and shocking incident. Our thoughts are with the Togo team, their Football Association and the people," Mancini said on City's website. "We send them our best wishes at this traumatic time."

Dossevi and teammate Alaixys Romao felt the team should not participate in the 16-team event, which is scheduled to start Sunday. Togo is scheduled to play its opening game Monday against Ghana.

"We don't want to play this African Cup of Nations," Dossevi told Infosport. "We're thinking about our teammates - to be hit by bullets when you've come to play football is disgusting."

"If we can boycott it, let's do it," Romao told Infosport. "It's just not on for us to be shot at because of a football match. All I can think about is stopping this competition and going home."

The attack took place just five months before the World Cup in South Africa, raising more concerns about the security of the event, which is being held on the continent for the first time.