PREMIER League clubs are preparing to bring their African stars home if assurances cannot be provided over their safety following yesterday’s attack on the Togo team bus two days before the start of the African Nations Cup in Angola.
Manchester City – whose star striker Emmanuel Adebayor was not harmed in the attack in Cabinda – and Portsmouth have contacted the Football Association, asking them to speak to football’s world governing body to ensure players’ safety can be guaranteed, and calling for them to be sent home if it cannot.
A spokesman for Portsmouth, who have a number of players in the event, said: ‘‘We will be asking the FA to talk to FIFA to ensure the players’ safety. If the players’ safety can’t be ensured, then the players should be sent home.’’ The team bus came under an attack that, according to reports, left the driver dead and six other passengers injured, including two of the Togo squad. Romanian club Vaslui confirmed their defender Serge Akakpo was one of the players who had been shot and badly injured.
Manchester City released a statement which said: “Club officials have spoken with Adebayor and, though shaken by the terrible events, he is unharmed.
‘‘The club would like to send its condolences to the family of the driver and sends best wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured.
‘‘We are currently in talks with the Football Association over what may happen next.’’ Aston Villa have also confirmed their midfielder Moustapha Salifou is ‘‘shaken but OK’’ after managing to make contact with the 26- year-old’s brother.
Villa boss Martin O’Neill told his club’s official website: ‘‘I am really shocked to hear about this.
‘‘Obviously I am pleased and relieved to hear that Moustapha is OK and that he is not among the injured people.
‘‘The club have been in contact with him and he has reassured us that he is OK, but he is extremely shocked and upset, which he would be in these circumstances.’’ The Confederation of African Football and FIFA are yet to confirm the details of the attack or what effect it may have on the format of the tournament, or indeed whether it can go ahead at all.
Togo and Nantes striker Thomas Dossevi told French radio station RMC: ‘‘I’m OK but several players are in a bad state.
‘‘We are still at hospital. We were machine-gunned like dogs and had to remain hidden under our seats for around 20 minutes to avoid the bullets.’’ Midfielder Alaixys Romao admits the players feared the worst and thinks Togo are now likely to pull out.
‘‘We’re not thinking yet of what could happen,’’ said Romao, who plays his club football for Grenoble.
‘‘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.”
Adebayor was interviewed prior to his departure for the tournament and asked whether he had any reservations about playing in the politically unstable Cabinda region of Angola.
The former Arsenal forward said: ‘‘We were born in Africa so we know what it’s about. Some people might be afraid, which is normal.
‘‘But I’m going back to Africa, to one of the countries on my continent, and I’m prepared for Cabinda. Angola had a big, big war but today everybody is getting along better.”
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