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10.01.2010 Football News

Togo PM orders team to return from Cup of Nations

10.01.2010 LISTEN
By Ghanasoccernet.com


The prime minister of Togo, Gilbert Houngbo, on Sunday ordered the national football team to immediately return home from the African Nations Cup after a deadly attack.

The team was willing to stay to play the Black Stars on Monday in the wake of the deadly that has so far killed three people.

But what is now a growing political struggle, the prime minister of the tiny West African country has orders the team to return home.

"If there is a team or persons present under the banner of Togo at the opening of the African Nations Cup this afternoon, it will be a false representation. The team must return today," Houngbo told reporters.

"We understand the position of the players who want to in some way avenge their dead colleagues, but it would be irresponsible for the Togolese authorities to allow them to continue," he added.

"The team must come home. The government's decision is unchanged."

If the teams abides by the orders of the government of the country, Ghana's clash with the Hawks on Monday is off.

Hooded gunmen opened fire on the team's buses as they crossed into the restive Angolan enclave of Cabinda, killing the assistant coach and squad spokesman.

The attack on Friday was claimed by a faction of the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) separatist group embroiled in a struggle for independence in the oil-rich territory.






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