المجموعة الثانية : غانا - كوت ديفوار - توجو - بوركينا فاسو

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Togo ‘to play for the dead’ – report




Although it has not yet been officially confirmed, Togo performed a dramatic U-turn on their decision to quit the African Nations Cup, electing instead to stay in Angola and compete.
This was said by a player only hours before the competition gets underway today.

The surprise announcement changes their earlier stated decision to fly home in the wake of a deadly attack on their team bus on Friday in Cabinda. The attack by rebels left at least two dead and many injured, and led to the team being called back to Lome by the Togolese government.

One of those injured, goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale, was airlifted to South Africa and is said to be in a stable condition in Johannesburg’s Milpark hospital, where he is to undergo surgery for gunshot wounds.

Now, after an impassioned plea by the Angolan Prime Minister Paulo Kassoma and African Nations Cup organisers, the Togolese players have elected to remain.

“In memory of the dead, the national team has decided to play in the African Nations Cup,” said Thomas Dossevi, who plays for French side Nantes told AFP.

“We are all heartbroken, it is no longer a party, but we want to show our national colours, our values and that we are men,” he said.

“It was a decision taken nearly unanimously by the team which met during the night after having been reassured by the Angolan authorities,” Dossevi added.

Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor had earlier been reported by his club Manchester City to be returning to Britain.

The stricken side’s first match is against Ghana, in Cabinda, on Monday and Dossevi criticised organisers for not rescheduling the fixture.

Dossevi said the team was “a bit bitter; we are a little disappointed with the Confederation of African Football which couldn’t arrange for a postponement of our first match so we could bury our dead.

“CAF puts its interests first and not those of the countries. They did not support us enough.”

Giving an update on Obilale’s condition late yesterday, Richard Friedland, CEO of Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, said that the goalkeeper suffered two gunshot wounds to the lower back.

“He is fully receptive. He understands where he is," Friedland added.

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Togo 'will play in Africa Cup of Nations'




Togo's football team has decided to play in the African Nations Cup, even though the government withdrew it after a deadly attack on Friday, players say.
Thomas Dossevi told the AFP news agency the players wanted to stay in Angola in memory of the three people who were killed when rebels fired on their bus.
L'Equipe quoted Alaixys Romao as saying the team would not leave like cowards.
Togo has demanded Angola explain why it was not warned of the dangers of travel in Cabinda, where the bus was ambushed.
Angolan officials had earlier expressed astonishment that the team had travelled there by road from their base in the Republic of Congo.
'Unanimous decision'
On Saturday, Togo government spokesman Pascal Bodjona said the players were returning home because they were in a state of shock.




"We cannot in such a dramatic circumstance continue in the Africa Cup of Nations," he told reporters.
Manchester City, the club of Togo's captain, Emmanuel Adebayor, had already said on its website that he was returning to the UK.
But later two players said they were determined to stay.
"We are all heartbroken, it is no longer a party, but we want to show our national colours, our values and that we are men," Thomas Dossevi said.
"It was a decision taken nearly unanimously by the team which met during the night after having been reassured by the Angolan authorities," he added.

CABINDA Oil-rich province cut off from the rest of Angola by DR Congo Flec rebels fought for region's independence Rebels laid down arms in 2006 but some unrest continues Angola had dismissed concerns about staging games there Togo footballers tell of attack Optimism to horror after attack Send us your comments

Alaixys Romao also said the decision had been unanimous.
"We have just had a meeting of the whole delegation and we will be on the pitch on Monday to face Ghana," he said.
"People have died for the Africa Cup of Nations, others have been injured. We can't let them down and leave like cowards," he added.
"If we stay here it's for them, but also not to give any satisfaction to the rebels. Our government does not necessarily agree with us but we are all determined to play this competition."
When contacted on Saturday night, a spokesman for the tournament organisers, the Confederation of African Football (Caf), could not confirm the reports, saying: "I don't know. I am not aware so far. I've not heard any communication."
Caf had earlier said it understood Togo's withdrawal, but that the six other matches scheduled to be played in Cabinda would go ahead.
Security guarantee
In Friday's attack, several gunmen opened fire on the Togo team bus shortly after it had crossed from the Republic of Congo into the enclave of Cabinda.

Angola has increased security for all teams and at all venues

Adebayor told the BBC the players and support staff were trapped on the bus for 30 minutes as Angolan police fought the attackers. They eventually had to flee under fire to get into the vehicles sent to rescue them, he said.
Togolese officials said the driver had died at the scene, while media officer Stanislas Ocloo and assistant coach Amalete Abalo died later in hospital.
The separatist rebel Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (Flec), which has fought for independence for several decades but entered into a ceasefire in 2006, later claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Angolan government, which had hoped the tournament would show how well it had recovered from the fighting, called the incident an "act of terrorism".
CAF president Issa Hayatou said he had received a guarantee that security would be increased for all teams and at all venues.
The bi-annual Africa Cup of Nations begins with the hosts playing Mali in Luanda at 1900 GMT.
Venue and dates: Angola, 10-31 January Coverage: Final and semi-finals live on BBC TV, BBC World Service and commentaries on BBC Sport website. Live commentary on opening match on BBC World Service and BBC Sport website

GROUP B



The Ivory Coast travel to Angola as big favourites to lift the trophy, as they were in Ghana two years ago.
However, the Elephants, along with Nigeria, remain one of the big underachievers of the tournament, they finished fourth last time and their sole success came in 1992.
The Ivorians have an abundance of talent in their ranks, not least Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, who remains the team's outstanding player, leading a line of other star names including his club team-mate Salomon Kalou, Barcelona's Yaya Toure and Premier League players Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Aruna Dindane.
Having coasted through qualifying and with the likes of Drogba now the wrong side of 30, many feel this generation is running out of chances and must seize their opportunity in this year's tournament.
Another team not traditionally short on talent is the Black Stars of Ghana, who are long-overdue a triumph of their own, having last taken the African continental trophy in 1982.
However, Serb coach Milovan Rajevac is missing a number of key players with central defenders John Pantsil and John Mensah and midfielders Stephen Appiah and Laryea Kingston all ruled out through injury.

Ivorian fans will look to Didier Drogba to claim their first title in 18 years

Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari also misses out, after not being selected by Rajevac due to ill discipline.
The omissions place even more responsibility on the shoulders of Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien - who himself is returning from injury - while also presenting a chance for several stars of Ghana's Under-20 World Cup winning side to step up a level.
Eight members of the young squad who triumphed in Egypt last year have been drafted into the Ghanaian senior panel, including top scorer in last year's tournament Dominic Adiyiah.
Togo were drawn in Group B but have pulled out of the tournament following the deadly gun attack on their team bus on Friday.
Burkina Faso have the qualifiers' top scorer in their ranks, the talented striker Moumouni Dagano, whose 12-goal tally powered his side to the finals.
If the Burkinabe are to mark their seventh appearance by overcoming the odds to progress they will need the Qatar-based target man to continue his scorching form when they face the Ivory Coast on 11 January.

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