Togo keeper 'still alive' after Africa Cup of Nations Cup gunshot

Obilale is reported to have died

Togo goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale was in stable condition in a South African hospital on Saturday despite reports of his death after a deadly rebel ambush on the squad's convoy in Angola, the hospital said.

"He is conscious and in a stable condition. He has suffered two gunshot wounds to the lower back and abdomen," said Richard

Friedland, head of the private Milpark Hospital where the 25-year-old was admitted.

 
"He is being currently assessed by our trauma team and being scanned and it is envisaged that he'll be taken into theatre very

shortly."
 
Obilale was airlifted to South Africa, arriving at 1500 GMT, a day after hooded gunmen who opened fire on Togo's buses on Friday in

the restive northern Cabinda enclave, killing at least two people, ahead of the African Nations Cup.

 
Medical assistance firm International SOS said that it had been contacted late Friday to evacuate two team members, but that one

died before the emergency team arrived in Cabinda.

 
"Both had serious gunshot injuries and unfortunately one of the patients demised prior to arrival of the air ambulances," the firm's

regional medical director Fraser Lamond told AFP.
 
Confederation of African Football (CAF) official Kodjo Samlan said earlier that Togo's assistant coach Abalo Amnalete and its

squad spokesman Stanislas Ocloo died early Friday.

 
News of Obilale's condition emerged as Togo's government recalled its football team from the African Nations Cup, saying the players were in shock.

 
Earlier it had been reported that he was the fourth person to have died as a result of the attack but the first playing member of the squad to have passed away.

 
Obilele was shot in the attack and his team-mate - striker Jonathan Ayite - said he died of his injuries.

 
He told French radio station RMC: "He (Obilale) is dead and even if you bring the president and even (Barack) Obama himself, we're leaving immediately, we're going back home.

 
“Ghana and the Ivory Coast are in solidarity with us."

 
The coach of Obilale's club - French amateur side Pontivy - Alain Le Dour added on L'Equipe: "We have been called to give us this news (of his death) but we have not yet had it in an official manner.

 
"It is very difficult to have more precise information. Yesterday we didn't know where he took a bullet.

 
"We were told that he was successfully operated on and we talked about a transfer to South Africa. Officially we don't know any more."