Togo pulled out of the African Nations Cup on Saturday after at least two people were killed in a rebel ambush on its squad's convoy, despite Angola's efforts to allay security concerns ahead of kick-off.
‘The Togolese government has decided to recall its team,’ government spokesman Pascal Bodjona said.
‘We cannot in such a dramatic circumstance continue the African Nations Cup competition. This is necessary because the players are in shock.’
Togo's assistant coach and its squad spokesman died Friday after hooded gunmen opened fire as the team's buses crossed into the restive Angolan enclave of Cabinda, according to the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The attack was claimed by a separatist group embroiled in a struggle for independence in the oil-rich territory.
Prime Minister Paulo Kassoma met with Confederation of African Football president Issa Hayatou to reassure player safety ahead of the opening match of Africa's largest football festival on Sunday.
‘The prime minister considers the incident in Cabinda as an isolated act and repeated that the security of Togo's team and the other squads is guaranteed,’ his office said in a statement.
Football teams competing in the 22-day tournament expressed deep unease about the shooting, initially reported to have wounded nine in the Togo squad, but backed the decision to continue.
Togo were heading home despite an attempt by Nations Cup organisers to convince them to stay.
‘If you choose to remain with us we will help you overcome your pain,’ Hayatou said when he met the team in Cabinda, according to a statement delivered by CAF secretary general Moustapha Fahmi in Luanda late Saturday.
‘If you choose to leave the competition we will understand your decision and we will accept it. It's a difficult choice. The decision is yours, and yours alone.’
CAF had not received any official notification of Togo's decision to leave Angola, he said.
CAF official Kodjo Samlan said earlier reports that one of the bus drivers had been killed were incorrect.
Players and others cowered under seats for 20 minutes to escape the bullets. Squad member Thomas Dossevi said they had been ‘fired on like dogs’.
‘We are all a little shocked and we're asking why CAF were holding games in Cabinda. How can you organise a tournament in a state of war?’ Dossevi told AFP Saturday.
On Saturday evening, goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale was in a stable condition in a Johannesburg hospital where he was expected to undergo surgery after being airlifted to South Africa.
‘He is conscious and in a stable condition. He has suffered two gunshoot wounds to the lower back and abdomen,’ said doctor Richard Friedland, head of the private Milpark Hospital where the 25-year-old was admitted.
Organisers said the games would proceed as planned.
‘CAF is continuing with its schedule and the sovereign authorities of the country (Angola) are taking the adequate measures surrounding security,’ said Constant Omari, a member of the local organising committee.
Togo and Aston Villa midfielder Moustapha Salifou, one of two English Premiership players who were not injured, told his club's website that the team wanted to leave Angola.
‘No one wants to play. We just want to go home,’ he said. ‘We have made our decision as players. We can't play in these circumstances and we want to leave for home today.’
A separatist group, FLEC/PM, campaigning for independence for Cabinda which is physically split from the rest of the country by a strip of the Democratic Republic of Congo, claimed responsibility for the attack.
