Attack on Togo players an attempt to discredit Africa
By DPA, IANSThursday, February 4, 2010
JOHANNESBURG - The gun attack on the Togo football team at last month’s Africa Cup of Nations in Angola that left three people dead was not political, but aimed at discrediting Africa’s ability to hold such events, Angola’s deputy commissioner said Thursday.
According to a report by the South African press association SAPA, Paulo de Almeida made the comments at a meeting of the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation in Durban.
De Almeida said all security measures had been in place for the tournament and that his country’s officials were unaware that the Togo team intended travelling to Cabinda by road instead of flying there.
“From this we know how to react. This act did not jeopardise the effectiveness of the tournament,” said De Almeida.
Togo withdrew from the tournament after their team bus came under attack from armed Cabinda separatists Jan 8, killing the assistant coach and media officer and injuring several others, including players.
The Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) later claimed responsibility for the attack.
The executive committee of Africa’s governing football body CAF subsequently banned Togo from the next two Africa Cup of Nations competitions and fined them $50,000.
