9 Jan 2010

Stunned Togo team may quit after fatal attack

9:10 pm on 9 January 2010

Togo's stunned national football team is considering pulling out of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament after their bus came under sustained gunfire in Angola.

The driver of the bus was killed in the machine-gun attack in the northern province of Cabinda, while nine others were injured, including two players, an assistant manager, a physiotherapist and two coaches.

Defender Serge Akakpo was hit by two bullets and lost a lot of blood. One of the players, Thomas Dossevi, who also plays for the French club FC Nantes, says they had to hide under their seats for 20 minutes.

The organisers say the tournament - due to start on Saturday night - will go ahead but Togo's players will meet to discuss returning home.

Captain Emmanuel Adebayor, who plays his club football for Manchester City, says that if they're not sure about security, then they'll be leaving. They're still reeling from shock, he says.

Separatist group claims responsibility

The attack happened in the disputed Angolan territory of Cabinda, which is separated from the rest of Angola by the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A separatist group called FLEC, which has been waging a three-decade conflict for independence for Cabinda, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The rebels officially laid down their arms in 2006, but the BBC reports that some unrest continues.

World football's governing body Fifa is expecting a full report on the situation.