Thetownend.com

Unfortunatly Adebayor was unharmed  :)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8449319.stm

 :cry: In all seriousness though , i wish the team well

Yeh, horrible thing to happen, makes you wonder why?

With this and the Sri Lankan Cricket team attack, it's worrying to think that Sports teams are becoming a legitimate target.

I'd have thought the massacre of Israeli sportspersons at the 1972 Olympics by Black September, set a bit of a precedent here.

Slightly different in that they were targeted precisely because they were Israeli. The Sri Lankans and, as it seems, the Togolese were attacked not because of who they were but for the attention it would recieve.

Possibly not in this case - the area where the attack happened apparently has known issues with insurrectionists/bandits. So it may have been a random attack and just bad luck. Although it does beg the question why they were travelling that way without an armed escort

Crazy, can only hope they recover quickly. Such a shame about the driver. I'd be amazed if they don't pull out of the tournament now.

Worrying that the tournament officials didn't actually have their correct travel plans. I know South Africa is a different country and no doubt things will be manager better, but it doesn't exactly fill you with confidence for the World Cup. You'd have thought they'd be making sure it ran like clock work.

A few cruel jokesters are suggesting it was orchestrated by Avram Grant trying to prevent the Tournament going ahead so he gets his players back.

I feel bad for laughing, but I did. I did notice that a lot of Premiership teams have already called for all their players to come home. You hope that's motivated purely by concern for their own safety, but my cynicism thinks not.

As has been said, it seems this was more to do with the territory they were travelling through, rather than there being any suggestion that other teams will be in danger at the event.

Actually, it turns out they did have an armed escort from the Angolan armed forces who engaged the gunmen in a half hour gunfight. So scrap that point, I guess

i thought this was going to be a team lineup with someone pulling a funny face...

One of the team has just died!

This has to put the whole competition in serious doubt.

Togo have unsuprisingly withdrawn

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/8449611.stm

The assistant coach, press officer and driver were killed. Two players were shot and injured in Friday's attack.

Not surprised.  Nasty little continent, this one.  Law and order thin on the ground and corruption, epidemic.  I predicted when SA got the World Cup Finals, there would be murder and kidnap a plenty.

You mean a player? Can't find anything to say that?

I bet you  Adebeyor didn't run the lengh of the bus to celebrate in front of the gunners yesterday.

hahaha :)

ha ha. Like it.

Not sure it's official yet - but two players (one based in France and the other in Romania) were injured yesterday and the French-based one, the reserve keeper has been reported by a team mate as having died.

RIP

Sky news reported it at about 2pm. Seems to be a bit premature.

SSN have him as "in a stable condition" which seems a bit odd. I suppose dead is pretty stable, but still...

No doubt about which is the group of death in the Africa cup of nations

Dear Mr. Ashley Cole,

After hearing of your recent achievement of hitting 100mph in a 50 zone, I am writing to offer you a job as a coach driver.

Yours sincerely,

Gabriel Ameyi - Vice President Togo national football team

I for one will not be watching the African Cup of Nations.  327 shots and only 3 on target.  Rubbish !

Firsty game finished 4-4 - I wish this was on telly.  Angola were 4 -0 up will 12 minutes to go.


An event in Angola has no bearing on the World Cup in South Africa.  You're argument is paramount to saying the 2012 olympics in England will be awful because something terrible happened in Moscow.  Oh, and I'm sure you know this, but Africa as a continent is hardly "little".

In other words, stop talking shite.

Except South Africa is more than a bit dodgy crime wise, far worse than England. Plus you don't have loads of gun crazed militia running about all over the EU taking pot shots at people just for a laugh.

A big part of the plan for a successful World Cup in South Africa is clamping down on crime and asking the criminals to take a four week holiday at the same time. Hopefully it will all work but I have a nasty feeling.

Of course, no terrorism in Europe, no sir.

London bombings.  Madrid bombings.  Glasgow airport. 

The difference is that when it happens in Europe we put it down to a few individuals.  When it happens in Africa, its because all Africans are corrupt and violent.

The law enforcement in many African countries is indeed very corrupt. I will admit I know nothing of South Africa though.

anyone see Adebyors interview on Sky News this morning regarding the attacks???

he was sat wearing an Arsenal t-shirt :)

Bit of a sweeping statement there.
I know many africans and they seem fine to me, really nice people.

They make bloody good caddys on a golf course to me

Obviously they aren't all corrupt and violent and I never said they were.

But with regards to security in general, comparing Africa and the EU as being equal is ridiculous. Serious crime rates in South Africa are through the roof and its probably one of the safest countries in Africa. There have been plenty of major problems in other countries as well, Zimbabwe being a prime example.

Yes, as ridiculous as assuming that a problem in one African nation can be generalised to the whole continent

cant find the image elsewhere but u can view it from the man city forum. along with 75 pages> of wtf was he doing?!

http://www.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=158315 (http://www.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=158315)

fair enough his head may be fooked but has adebayor seriously forgot which team he plays for?

gags :doh:

I saw the interview on Sky sports news with the Arse shirt..... I laughed so hard I nearly wet my pants!!! What a complete t*sser! I bet the Arse fans are loving that, given his run ins with them in recent history!

I never generalised across the whole continent, though the problems there aren't limited to one nation. Its a fact they have crime problems in South Africa and even the WC organisers and FIFA wouldn't deny it.

Having been to Cape Town and driven along the Garden Route (very nice, recommended), I found SA great.  Cape Town seemed as safe (or not) as any other city, and the wife and I never once felt scared or threatened.  By the same token, knowing some South Africans, apparently Joburg is as dodgy as it gets!  My advice, for what it's worth, is go to Cape Town, watch some football, go to the District 6 museum (see the real District 9) and drink Windhoek.

Very brave and true piece written here:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/matthew_syed/article6985312.ece

im fucked if im coming up to the game on saturday, didnt you know that there was ethnic cleansing in the balkans less than 10 years ago. Im staying home.

The CAF have now banned Togo from the next two African Nations Cup for withdrawing after their players were shot at...Disgraceful !!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/8489127.stm

What a gigantic bunch of cunts.

Unbelievable!

This

In a nutshell. I hope FIFA can step in, but I doubt they will.

how much more distastefull can you get. shocking.

Correct Batch. FIFA will not do anything as Blatter has an election to fight this year, and he needs the African votes. He'll keep quiet and hope it all goes away.

beggars belief.it really does

Kicking Sepp Blatters nut in is in my top 3 wishes, therefore I sort of hope he does nothing to further justify this hatred.

African football is a joke, the CAF in particular. How the fuck did they allow the Togo team to get in a position where this could happen in the first place? You could argue the Togo team were stupid for travelling the way they did or that the tournament organisers should have had a better handle on travelling arrangements but ultimately the buck stops with the CAF.

What they've done now, as others have said, is beyond belief. Two of their party died for fucks sake.

I have a feeling FIFA will sort it out, as they were "unavailable for comment" which suggests they might sort something out behind the scenes. Whilst Blatter is a cunt, I'd imagine Blatter he is having kittens over it at the moment.

Not going to happen, but I reckon UEFA should step in and offer Togo a place in qualifying for the 2012 European Championship. Nothing in the rules against it as far as I'm aware as you're allowed to switch federations if you want, like Australia. Would be worth it if only to piss off CAF and get them to put their house in order.

You really must be joking

At the time they were denied readmittance to this year's tournament, there was something on the World Service Football Show about it. Can't remember the ins and outs now but they were basically saying that there was no logistical reason to not let them back in, but there were huge internal politics in CAF in play and that was the main reason. I'd guess that's the same thing at work here. But yeah, disgraceful

I love johnny's crackpot theories :)

I think we should give them a place at Wimbledon...

But yes, dreadful decision.

How about we swap the Togo national team and MK 'Dons'? Togo can have a place in League One whilst Franchise can go off to Africa and be banned from competing in competitions.

Perhaps a playoff against Ireland?

Cracking idea and Wankleman can carry a banner before each game with "I hate darkies" on it.

Only on condition that they're regularly machine gunned on the way to games

Surely a bye into "judges houses" on the x-factor is the least we could do.

Would never happen. We'd fuck up the pens in the semis

*quarters

Apparently Togo's scandalous ban has been lifted.