Togo national football team attack

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Togo national football team bus attack
Location Cabinda Province, Angola
Date 8 January 2010
Target Togolese National Football Team and Angolan National Armed Forces
Death(s) 3[1]
Injured 9[2]
Perpetrator(s) Forces for the Liberation of the State of Cabinda-Military Position (FLEC-PM)

The Togo national football team bus attack was a terrorist attack on the team bus of the Togo national football team that occurred on 8 January 2010 as the team traveled through the Angolan province of Cabinda on the way to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, which began on 10 January.[3] A little-known offshoot of the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC), a separatist group from the province of Cabinda, known as the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda - Military Position (FLEC-PM), claimed responsibility for the attack.[4] A bus driver, the team's assistant manager Abalo Amelete, and media officer Stanislas Ocloo were killed, with several others injured.[5] Secretary General of the FLEC-PM Rodrigues Mingas, currently exiled in France, claimed the attack was not aimed at the Togolese players but at the Angolan forces at the head of the convoy.[6] Authorities reported two suspects were detained in connection with the attacks.[7]

Contents

[edit] Attack

Map of Cabinda, 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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] The siege lasted for at least 30 minutes.[11] The bus driver, Mário Adjoua, was killed,[12] cutting off all possible means of escape.[11] The passengers hid beneath the seats.[13] A security team of around 10 men in two cars travelling with the team returned the attackers' fire.[14]

FC Vaslui defender Serge Akakpo was badly wounded by bullets and lost blood,[15] as was goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilalé.[14] Alongside both players, Vice-President Gabriel Ameyi of the Fédération Togolaise de Football and seven members including a journalist and two team doctors were wounded.[16] Emmanuel Adebayor said the attack was, "one of the worst things I've ever been through in my life."[11] 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.[17] Maybe they thought we were there. Then they opened fire, even against our coaches. It was terrible."[11] Dossevi said the team was "machine-gunned, like dogs."[11][18]

The Angolan separatist guerilla group Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) has claimed responsibility for the attack.[19] 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."[20] 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.[10] A larger offshoot group known as Armed Forces of Cabinda (FLEC-FAC) also claimed the responsibility. The leader of the group Jean-Claude N'Zita dismissed Mingas' faction as opportunist.[21]

In connection with the deadly attack on the Togolese national football team, the Angolan police have arrested two suspects on 10 January 2010[22]. 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 West Africa.[23].

[edit] Victims

Three people were killed and nine injured.[24]

Dead
  • Amelete Abalo – Assistant coach of the Togo national football team and manager of ASKO Kara (died on 9 January 2010, 4:00 West Africa Time)[25]
  • Stan Ocloo – press officer (died on 9 January 2010, 4:30 West Africa Time)[26]
  • Mário Adjoua – Angolan-born bus driver (died on 8 January 2010)[27]
Wounded
  • Kodjovi Obilalé[28] - was shot in the lower back. The bullet split into several pieces making its way into his stomach. The goalkeeper's condition reportedly stabilized as of January 11. South African doctors suggested leaving bullet fragments in his stomach since the operation to remove them would possibly cause more damage.[29]
  • Serge Akakpo[30]
  • Hubert Velud[31]
  • Waké Nibombé
  • Elista Kodjo Lano
  • Dr. Divinelae Amevor - physiotherapist
  • Dr. Tadafame Wadja - doctor

[edit] Aftermath

The Togolese team called for a boycott of the competition as a result of the attack.[32] Alaixys Romao and Thomas Dossevi spoke of their disgust and their lack of desire to compete following their experience.[32] 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.[9] After seeing the aftermath of the attack, members of the Mozambique national team flying into Luanda asked for assurances of protection.[33]

Togo was due to play its first game of the tournament against Ghana, three days after the attack on 11 January 2010.[34] STV Sport reported that Togo pulled out of the tournament a day later.[35]

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."[36] Thomas Dossevi, one of the Togolese players, announced that Togo would compete "to show our national colours, our values and that we are men."[37][9] The Togolese government, however, subsequently ordered the team to return home after all, on grounds of security.[38][39]

The Organising Committee of the Africa Cup in Angola (COCAN) has raised serious allegations against the Togolese delegation; Virgilio Santos, a member of the Organisation Committee, said, "The rules were clear: No team should arrive by bus. I do not know what has led Togo to do it anyway."[40][not in citation given]

On 11 January 2010, Togo was officially disqualified from the Africa Cup upon their return to their homeland[41]. 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)[42]. 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.[43]

On January 11, two FLEC operatives were arrested near the site of the shooting.[44]

[edit] Reactions

Angolan government minister António Bento Bembe called it an "act of terrorism"[12], and has since 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.[12] Manchester City and Portsmouth football clubs expressed concerns over the safety of their players.[12] Players from other teams in Africa, such as Benni McCarthy and Momo Sissoko, condemned the attack.[45]

Danny Jordaan, organiser of the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup to be 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.[46]

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.[47]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Togo withdraw from Africa Cup of Nations". BBC Sport. 2010-01-09. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8449611.stm. Retrieved 2009-01-09. 
  2. ^ Togos Spieler wollen nun doch zum Afrika Cup antreten
  3. ^ "Assistant coach among dead in attack on Togo team". CNN. 2010-01-09. http://www.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/football/01/09/angola.african.nations.cup.togo/index.html. Retrieved 2010-01-10. 
  4. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/11/two-arrested-togo-football-attack
  5. ^ Rss Liste des blessés lors de l'attaque contre le bus des Eperviers
  6. ^ "Togo footballers were attacked by mistake, Angolan rebels say". The Guardian. 2010-01-11. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/11/two-arrested-togo-football-attack. Retrieved 2010-01-11. 
  7. ^ Aleisha Tissen (2010-01-11). "Two held over attack on team". The Citizen. http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=113558,1,22. Retrieved 2010-01-11. 
  8. ^ "Togo footballers shot in ambush". BBC News. 2010-01-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8449319.stm. Retrieved 2010-01-08. 
  9. ^ a b c "Togo pull out of African Nations Cup after bus attack in Angola". The Daily Telegraph. 2010-01-09. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/6956588/Togo-pull-out-of-African-Nations-Cup-after-bus-attack-in-Angola.html. Retrieved 2010-01-09. 
  10. ^ a b Angela Charlton (2010-01-12). "Togo Bus Rampage Exposes France's Angola Ties". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/01/12/world/AP-EU-France-African-Diplomacy.html. Retrieved 2010-01-13. 
  11. ^ a b c d e "Togo football stars tell of gun attack". BBC Sport. 2010-01-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8449502.stm. Retrieved 2010-01-08. 
  12. ^ a b c d "Togo players injured, driver killed in gun attack". RTÉ Sport. 2010-01-08. http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2010/0108/togo.html. Retrieved 2010-01-08. 
  13. ^ "Angriff auf Togos Fußballteam - Ein Toter" (in German). Transfermarkt.de. 2010-01-09. http://www.transfermarkt.de/de/news/34564/angriff-auf-togos-fussballteam--ein-toter.html. Retrieved 2010-01-09. 
  14. ^ a b "Togo government tells team to quit Cup of Nations". BBC Sport. 2010-01-09. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/8449611.stm. Retrieved 2010-01-09. 
  15. ^ "Mannschaftsbus von Togo an angolanischer Grenze beschossen" (in German). http://www.kleinezeitung.at/sport/fussball/2260957/mannschaftsbus-togo-angolanischer-grenze-beschossen.story?seite=2. 
  16. ^ "2 Togo soccer players hurt in gun attack". CBC Sports. 2010-01-09. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2010/01/08/sp-togo-soccer-gunattack.html?ref=rss. Retrieved 2010-01-09. 
  17. ^ Drittes Todesopfer – Togo denkt an Rückzug
  18. ^ David Smith (2010-01-08). "Emanuel Adebayor on Togo football team bus ambushed by Angola gunmen". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/08/togo-football-team-ambushed-angola. Retrieved 2010-01-08. 
  19. ^ Angola rebels FLEC claim Togo football team attack
  20. ^ Almeida, Henrique (2010-01-08). "One dead, 9 hurt in gun attack on Togo soccer team". Reuters. http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCATRE6075DB20100108. Retrieved 2010-01-09. 
  21. ^ "Second group claims attack". The Straits Times. 2010-01-12. http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Sport/Story/STIStory_476340.html. Retrieved 2010-01-13. 
  22. ^ Zwei Festnahmen nach Angriff auf togolesische Fußballmannschaft
  23. ^ Togoisches Team zurück in Togo - Staatstrauer
  24. ^ CAN : les Eperviers rentrent au Togo
  25. ^ (German) Zwei Tote bei Anschlag, OK erhebt Vorwürfe
  26. ^ (German) Zwei Tote bei Terrorangriff auf Togo-Auswahl
  27. ^ "RFI - Cup of Nations to proceed after three die in bus attack". Rfi.fr. http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/121/article_6440.asp. Retrieved 2010-01-09. 
  28. ^ (Agence AFP)
  29. ^ Donna Bryson. "Togo goalkeeper improving in South Africa, doctors opt to leave bullet in stomach". Canadian Press. http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gNYzoJUcs8HFuWJWagFJ28B4hzwQ. Retrieved 2010-01-11. 
  30. ^ Togo sagt Afrika-Cup-Teilnahme ab
  31. ^ Togo Soccer Bus Attacked Near Angola
  32. ^ a b "Attacked Togo stars want Africa Cup of Nations boycott". BBC Sport. 2010-01-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8449611.stm. Retrieved 2010-01-08. 
  33. ^ "Africa - Togo withdraw from Africa Cup". Al Jazeera English. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/01/201019133527904790.html. Retrieved 2010-01-09. 
  34. ^ Jason Burt and Paul Kelso (2010-01-08). "Togo: we cannot play after this bloodshed". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/6953884/Togo-we-cannot-play-after-this-bloodshed.html. Retrieved 2010-01-08. 
  35. ^ Togo withdraw from Africa Cup of Nations
  36. ^ Togo tritt nach Anschlag nun doch bei Afrika-Cup an
  37. ^ http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/togo-in-dramatic-african-nations-cup-uturn-20100110-m0fu.html
  38. ^ "Emmanuel Adebayor says Togo team will return home". BBC News (Sport). 10 January 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8450529.stm. Retrieved 10 January 2010. 
  39. ^ "Togo team flying home after terrorist attack". The Times. 10 January 2010. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article6982742.ece. Retrieved 10 January 2010. 
  40. ^ Togo soccer team bus attacked in Angola
  41. ^ Togo bei Afrika-Cup offiziell disqualifiziert
  42. ^ Bundesligisten in Sorge um Profis bei Afrika-Cup
  43. ^ "Togo's request to return to play at the Africa Cup of Nations has been turned down by the tournament organisers.". World Soccer. 2010-01-11. http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/togos_request_turned_down_news_293677.html. Retrieved 2010-01-11. 
  44. ^ Petrequin, Samuel (11 January 2010). "2 separatists held in attack on Togo soccer team". The Associated Press. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SOC_TOGO_BUS_ATTACKED?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-01-11-22-03-44. Retrieved 11 January 2010. 
  45. ^ Andrew Southwick and Mohammed Bhana (2010-01-08). "Benni McCarthy Leads Condemnation Of Togo Attack: Africa As A Whole Will Be Disgusted". Goal.com. http://www.goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2010/01/08/1733930/benni-mccarthy-leads-condemnation-of-togo-attack-africa-as-a. Retrieved 2010-01-08. 
  46. ^ "World Cup boss Danny Jordaan allays security concerns". BBC Sport. 2010-01-09. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/8450088.stm. Retrieved 2010-01-09. 
  47. ^ Staatstrauer in Togo nach Anschlag auf Nati

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Togo squad – 2010 Africa Cup of Nations (withdrawn)
1 Obilalé • 2 Bossou • 3 Eninful • 4 Adebayor • 5 Akakpo • 6 Mamah • 7 Salifou • 8 Améwou • 9 Dossevi • 10 F. Ayité • 11 J. Ayité • 12 Akoto • 13 Forson • 14 Boussari • 15 Romao • 16 Agassa • 17 Gakpé • 18 Sènaya • 19 Mani • 20 Brenner • 21 Kpatoumbi • 22 Tchagouni • 23 Touré • Coach: Velud
 Togo
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Togo_national_football_team_attack"