:Togo national football team attack

File:Cabinda pol77.jpg, an Angolan exclave. The main part of Angola is to the south east with the Democratic Republic of Congo in between (labelled on the map with its former name Zaire).]]

On 8 January 2010, the Togo national team bus was attacked by gunmen as it traveled through the Angolan province of Cabinda for the Africa Cup of Nations.{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8449319.stm |title=Togo footballers shot in ambush |access-date=8 January 2010 |date=8 January 2010 |publisher=BBC News}} The bus came under machine gun fire just after it had crossed the border from the Republic of the Congo into the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/6956588/Togo-pull-out-of-African-Nations-Cup-after-bus-attack-in-Angola.html |title=Togo pull out of African Nations Cup after bus attack in Angola |publisher=The Daily Telegraph |date=9 January 2010 |access-date=9 January 2010 | location=London | first1=Duncan | last1=White | first2=Mike | last2=Norrish}} All of Togo's initial Group B games were to take place in the Estádio Nacional do Chiazi stadium in Cabinda.

According to rebel leader Mingas, the attack was carried out by his Commander Sametonne who claimed 15 FLEC fighters participated in the ambush.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/01/12/world/AP-EU-France-African-Diplomacy.html |title=Togo Bus Rampage Exposes France's Angola Ties |work=The New York Times |author=Angela Charlton |date=12 January 2010 |access-date=13 January 2010}} The attack lasted for at least 30 minutes. The bus driver, Mário Adjoua, was killed, cutting off all possible means of escape. The passengers hid beneath the seats. A security team of around 10 men in two cars travelling with the team returned the attackers' fire.

FC Vaslui defender Serge Akakpo was badly wounded by bullets and lost blood,{{cite web |url=http://www.kleinezeitung.at/sport/fussball/2260957/mannschaftsbus-togo-angolanischer-grenze-beschossen.story?seite=2 |title=Mannschaftsbus von Togo an angolanischer Grenze beschossen |language=de}} as was goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilalé.{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/8449611.stm |title=Togo government tells team to quit Cup of Nations |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 January 2010 |access-date=9 January 2010}} Alongside both players, Vice-President Gabriel Ameyi of the Togolese Football Federation and seven members including a journalist and two team doctors were wounded.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/2-togo-soccer-players-hurt-in-gun-attack-1.886284?ref=rss|title=2 Togo soccer players hurt in gun attack|date=9 January 2010|access-date=9 January 2010|publisher=CBC Sports}} Emmanuel Adebayor said the attack was, "one of the worst things I've ever been through in my life."{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8449502.stm|title=Togo football stars tell of gun attack|date=8 January 2010|access-date=8 January 2010|publisher=BBC Sport}} He had to carry his screaming teammates into the hospital as he was one of those least affected. Thomas Dossevi said, "It was a real hell. Twenty minutes of shots, of blood and fear," and Richmond Forson said, "The bus carrying the luggage was riddled.{{cite web|url=http://www.morgenpost.de/sport/article1236147/Drittes-Todesopfer-Togo-denkt-an-Rueckzug.html |title=Drittes Todesopfer – Togo denkt an Rückzug |publisher=Morgenpost.de |date=9 January 2010 |access-date=20 June 2010}} Maybe they thought we were there. Then they opened fire, even against our coaches. It was terrible." Dossevi said the team was "machine-gunned, like dogs."{{cite news|author=David Smith|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jan/08/togo-football-team-ambushed-angola|title=Emanuel Adebayor on Togo football team bus ambushed by Angola gunmen|date=8 January 2010|access-date=8 January 2010|work=The Guardian | location=London}}

The Angolan separatist guerrilla group Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) claimed responsibility for the attack.{{cite news|author=|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Angola-rebels-FLEC-claim-Togo-football-team-attack/articleshow/5425965.cms |title=Angola rebels FLEC claim Togo football team attack |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=9 January 2010 |access-date=20 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113234658/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Angola-rebels-FLEC-claim-Togo-football-team-attack/articleshow/5425965.cms |archive-date=13 January 2010 }} A statement signed by FLEC's secretary general Rodrigues Mingas said, "This operation is just the start of a series of planned actions that will continue to take place in the whole territory of Cabinda."{{cite news|url=http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCATRE6075DB20100108|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925013305/http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCATRE6075DB20100108|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 September 2011|title=One dead, 9 hurt in gun attack on Togo soccer team|last=Almeida|first=Henrique|date=8 January 2010|publisher=Reuters|access-date=9 January 2010}} French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Bernard Valero said that "inciting violence is totally unacceptable" and Mingas could be prosecuted under French laws for making such statements.

A larger offshoot group known as Armed Forces of Cabinda (FLEC-FAC) also claimed responsibility. The leader of the group Jean-Claude N'Zita dismissed Mingas' faction as opportunist.{{Cite news |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Sport/Story/STIStory_476340.html |title=Second group claims attack |access-date=13 January 2010 |date=12 January 2010 |publisher=The Straits Times}}

Three people were killed and nine others injured in the attack.{{cite web|author=Nicholas McAnally |url=http://www.afrik.com/article18420.html |title=CAN : les Eperviers rentrent au Togo |date=20 January 2010 |publisher=Afrik.com |access-date=20 June 2010}}

;Dead

• Améleté Abalo – Assistant coach of the Togo national football team and manager of ASKO Kara (died on 9 January 2010){{cite web |language=de |url=http://www.1asport.de/sport/fussball/Zwei_Tote_bei_Anschlag__OK_erhebt_Vorwuerfe_sl_133182N.html |title=Zwei Tote bei Anschlag, OK erhebt Vorwürfe |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5mqwKk85u?url=http://www.1asport.de/sport/fussball/Zwei_Tote_bei_Anschlag__OK_erhebt_Vorwuerfe_sl_133182N.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 January 2010 }}
• Stanislas Ocloo (died on 9 January 2010) – TV sports commentator/journalist for Togolese Television{{in lang|de}} [https://archive.today/20120630085754/http://www.donaukurier.de/sport/fussball/fussball/D-Sport-Fussball-Afrika-Cup-Zwei-Tote-bei-Terrorangriff-auf-Togo-Auswahl;art154666,2233865 Zwei Tote bei Terrorangriff auf Togo-Auswahl]{{cite web |publisher=Committee to Protect Journalists |title=Stanislas Ocloo |url=http://www.cpj.org/killed/2010/stanilas-ocloo.php |date=9 January 2010|access-date=13 October 2011}}
• Mário Adjoua – Angolan-born bus driver (died on 8 January 2010){{cite web |url=http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/121/article_6440.asp |title=RFI – Cup of Nations to proceed after three die in bus attack |publisher=Rfi.fr |access-date=9 January 2010}}

;Wounded

• Kodjovi Obilalé{{cite web |url=http://sport.onet.pl/74318,1248685,2108224,,zmarl_postrzelony_reprezentant_kraju__togo_wycofuje_sie_z_pucharu_narodow_afryki,wiadomosc.html

|title=Togo wycofuje się z Pucharu Narodów Afryki |date=9 January 2010 |language=pl |trans-title=Togo withdraws from the African Cup of Nations |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120703030804/http://sport.onet.pl/74318,1248685,2108224,,zmarl_postrzelony_reprezentant_kraju__togo_wycofuje_sie_z_pucharu_narodow_afryki,wiadomosc.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 July 2012 |agency=AFP |website=Sport.onet.pl |access-date=20 June 2010 }} – was shot in the lower back. The bullet split into several pieces making its way into his stomach. The goalkeeper's condition was reportedly stabilized on 11 January. South African doctors suggested leaving bullet fragments in his stomach since the operation to remove them would possibly cause more damage.{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gNYzoJUcs8HFuWJWagFJ28B4hzwQ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114221652/http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gNYzoJUcs8HFuWJWagFJ28B4hzwQ |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 January 2010 |title=Togo goalkeeper improving in South Africa, doctors opt to leave bullet in stomach |publisher=Canadian Press |author= Donna Bryson|access-date=11 January 2010}}

• Serge Akakpo{{cite web |author= |url=http://www.rp-online.de/sport/fussball/international/Togo-sagt-Afrika-Cup-Teilnahme-ab_aid_804738.html |title=Togo sagt Afrika-Cup-Teilnahme ab |publisher=Rp-online.de |date=22 February 1999 |access-date=20 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123172442/http://www.rp-online.de/sport/fussball/international/Togo-sagt-Afrika-Cup-Teilnahme-ab_aid_804738.html |archive-date=23 January 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}
• Hubert Velud{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/08/togo-soccer-bus-attacked-_n_416385.html |title=Togo Soccer Bus Attacked Near Angola |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=8 January 2010 |access-date=20 June 2010}}—Manager{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=722713&sec=global&cc=5901 |title=Togo withdraw from ANC as death toll increases |date=9 January 2010 |website=ESPN |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113225505/http://soccernet.espn.go.com:80/news/story?id=722713 |archive-date=13 January 2010}}
• Waké Nibombé
• Elista Kodjo Lano
• Divinelae Amevor – physiotherapist
• Tadafame Wadja – doctor

In connection with the deadly attack on the Togolese national football team, the Angolan police arrested two suspects on 10 January 2010. As the national radio reported, citing the prosecutor, the arrests were made in the Angolan enclave of Cabinda, located between the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa. A total of 9 suspects were arrested.{{cn|date=February 2020}}

Angola arrested four men – Monsignor Raul Tati, a Roman Catholic priest and later bishop, Francisco Luemba, a lawyer, Belchior Tati, an economist and Jose Benjamin Fuca, a former police officer – who had documents about FLEC and had travelled to Paris for meetings with exiled leaders. In August, they were jailed for FLEC-PM membership. A court in Cabinda found the four guilty of crimes against state security; although the judge did not say whether the four had direct links to the attack. Their prison sentences ranged from three to five years.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} On 11 January, two FLEC operatives were arrested near the site of the shooting.{{cite news |title=2 separatists held in attack on Togo soccer team |first=Samuel |last=Petrequin |agency=Associated Press |date=11 January 2010 |access-date=11 January 2010 |url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SOC_TOGO_BUS_ATTACKED?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-01-11-22-03-44}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

The trial was criticised by human rights groups that accused the government of using the attacks to justify a crackdown on critics. Martinho Nombo, a lawyer taking part in the court hearings, said the judge convicted them only because they had spoken or written about independence for Cabinda. "This is unconstitutional. A judge cannot jail someone for nothing. This will only worsen Angola's poor record on human rights and the whole peace process with FLEC. The supposed link was implied rather than stated. They were convicted on the basis of those documents." Human Rights Watch also criticised the conviction calling the four "activists" and saying "This is clearly a lost opportunity to restore justice in Angola, and particularly in Cabinda."{{Cite web|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/08/20108315102504923.html|title = Breaking News, World News and Video from al Jazeera}}

The Togolese team called for a boycott of the competition as a result of the attack.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8449611.stm|title=Attacked Togo stars want Africa Cup of Nations boycott|date=8 January 2010|access-date=8 January 2010|publisher=BBC Sport}} Alaixys Romao and Thomas Dossevi spoke of their disgust and their lack of desire to compete following their experience. Togo's national football squad subsequently withdrew from the tournament. Togolese midfielder Alaixys Romao said the team was also trying to persuade the other teams in their group to pull out of the competition. After seeing the aftermath of the attack, members of the Mozambique national team flying into Luanda asked for assurances of protection.{{cite web|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/01/201019133527904790.html |title=Africa – Togo withdraw from Africa Cup |publisher=Al Jazeera English |access-date=9 January 2010}}

Togo was due to play its first game of the tournament against Ghana, three days after the attack on 11 January 2010.{{cite news|author1=Jason Burt |author2=Paul Kelso |name-list-style=amp |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/6953884/Togo-we-cannot-play-after-this-bloodshed.html|title=Togo: we cannot play after this bloodshed|date=8 January 2010|access-date=8 January 2010|publisher=The Daily Telegraph | location=London}} STV Sport reported that Togo pulled out of the tournament a day later.{{cite web|url=http://sport.stv.tv/world-sport/149216-togo-withdraw-from-african-cup-of-nations/ |title=Togo withdraw from Africa Cup of Nations |publisher=Sport.stv.tv |date=9 January 2010 |access-date=20 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111225952/http://sport.stv.tv/world-sport/149216-togo-withdraw-from-african-cup-of-nations/ |archive-date=11 January 2010 }}

Later there was something of a reversal as two of the Togolese players said they would play in the African Nations Cup in "memory of the dead."{{cite web|url=http://www.krone.at/krone/S30/object_id__179458/hxcms/index.html |title=Togo tritt nach Anschlag nun doch bei Afrika-Cup an |date=8 January 2010 |publisher=Krone.at |access-date=20 June 2010}} Thomas Dossevi, one of the Togolese players, announced that Togo would compete "to show our national colours, our values and that we are men."{{cite news|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/togo-in-dramatic-african-nations-cup-uturn-20100110-m0fu.html |title=Togo in dramatic African Nations Cup u-turn |publisher=News.smh.com.au |date=10 January 2010 |access-date=20 June 2010 |first=Nick |last=Reeves}} The Togolese government, however, subsequently ordered the team to return home after all, on grounds of security.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8450529.stm|title=Emmanuel Adebayor says Togo team will return home |date=10 January 2009|work=BBC News (Sport)|access-date=10 January 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article6982742.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604141831/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article6982742.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 June 2011|title=Togo team flying home after terrorist attack |author4=Jonathan Clayton |author5=Anne Barrowclough |author6=Ben Smith |date=10 January 2010|work=The Times|access-date=10 January 2010 | location=London|first1=Roland|last1=Watson|first2=Miles|last2=Costello|first3=Sam|last3=Fleming}}

On 11 January 2010, Togo was officially disqualified from the Africa Cup upon their return to their homeland. The Togolese team had left on Sunday, two days after the attack on the team bus. "The team is disqualified, this group will consist of three teams", said a spokesman for the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF). According to Togo Sports Minister, Christophe Padumhokou Tchao, Togo's official request to re-join the tournament was denied despite the reasoning to mourn the fallen members of the team.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/togos_request_turned_down_news_293677.html|title=Togo's request to return to play at the Africa Cup of Nations has been turned down by the tournament organisers.|date=11 January 2010|access-date=11 January 2010|publisher=World Soccer|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114170553/http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/Togos_request_turned_down_news_293677.html|archive-date=14 January 2010|df=dmy-all}}

Angolan government minister António Bento Bembe called it an "act of terrorism",{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2010/0108/togo.html|title=Togo players injured, driver killed in gun attack|date=8 January 2010|access-date=8 January 2010|publisher=RTÉ Sport}} and stepped up security at the tournament. Martin O'Neill, manager of player Moustapha Salifou at Aston Villa, expressed his shock on the club's website. Manchester City and Portsmouth football clubs expressed concerns over the safety of their players. Players from other teams in Africa, such as Benni McCarthy and Momo Sissoko, condemned the attack.{{cite web|author1=Andrew Southwick |author2=Mohammed Bhana |name-list-style=amp |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2010/01/08/1733930/benni-mccarthy-leads-condemnation-of-togo-attack-africa-as-a|title=Benni McCarthy Leads Condemnation Of Togo Attack: Africa As A Whole Will Be Disgusted|date=8 January 2010|access-date=8 January 2010|publisher=Goal.com}} Togolese Prime Minister Gilbert Houngbo ordered a three-day period of national mourning. "The government has opted for a prolonged nationwide three days of mourning period, which will begin on Monday 11 January 2010," Houngbo said on state television.{{cite web|url=http://www.bielertagblatt.ch/News/Ausland/164230#ancContent |title=Staatstrauer in Togo nach Anschlag auf Nati |publisher=Bielertagblatt.ch |date=1 July 2006 |access-date=20 June 2010}}

Danny Jordaan, organiser of the 2010 FIFA World Cup which was played in South Africa in June and July 2010, dismissed concerns that the attack had any relevance to the security arrangements for the World Cup.{{cite news |id= F.A. Premier League Managers Phil Brown (Hull City),Avram Grant (Portsmouth F.C.) and Harry Redknapp (Tottenham Hotspur) also brought up the security arrangements and have asked if the players from these teams would return from the tournament back to England

|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/8450088.stm

|title= Hull boss Phil Brown

|publisher=BBC Sport

|date=9 January 2010

|access-date=9 January 2010

}}

On 12 April, Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor announced his retirement from international football, stating that he was "still haunted by the events I witnessed on that horrible afternoon."{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/8616196.stm |title= Emmanuel Adebayor retires from Togo international duty |publisher= BBC Sport |date= 12 April 2010 |access-date= 14 April 2010}} Adebeyor subsequently returned to international duty in November 2011 following assurances from the Togo Football Federation regarding safety,{{cite news |last=Sannie |first= Ibrahim |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15661001.stm |title= BBC Sport – Tottenham's Adebayor comes out of Togo retirement |publisher= BBC News |date= 10 November 2011 |access-date= 22 November 2011}} making his comeback in a 1–0 win over Guinea-Bissau in a 2014 World Cup qualifier.{{cite news |agency= Reuters |url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/nov/15/emmanuel-adebayor-world-cup-qualifying |title= Emmanuel Adebayor in winning return for Togo in World Cup qualifying | Football | guardian.co.uk |publisher= Guardian |date= 15 November 2011 |access-date= 22 November 2011 |location= London}}

• List of terrorist incidents, 2010
• 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team
• Munich massacre

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{{wikinews-inline|Togo footballers ambushed in Angola}}

{{Togo national football team}}

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Category:2010 Africa Cup of Nations

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