SM
Barcelona vs. Valencia: 3 hrs 19 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

On This Day: Emmanuel Adebayor retires from international duty after bus attack

:Headline: On This Day: Emmanuel Adebayor retires from international duty after bus attack:
The decision came following an attack on the Togo team bus in Angola.
Sports Mole

Emmanuel Adebayor announced he was to retire from international football on this day in 2010.

The striker, who was aged 26 and a Manchester City player at the time, made the decision in the wake of an attack on the Togo team bus during the Africa Cup of Nations earlier that year, in which three people were killed.

A statement from Adebayor on City's official website read: "Following the tragic events during January's Africa Cup of Nations, in which two of my fellow countrymen were killed by terrorists in Angola, I have made the very difficult decision to retire from international football.

Three people were killed in the attack Adebayor was caught up in (Martin Rickett/PA).

"I have weighed up my feelings in the weeks and months since the attack and I am still haunted by the events which I witnessed on that horrible afternoon on the Togo team bus.

"We were just footballers going to play a football match and represent our country, yet we were attacked by people who wanted to kill us all. It is a moment I will never forget and one I never want to experience again."

He added: "For nine years I have played for the Togo team and, despite the events in Angola, I have some very good memories of my international career. I feel very proud to have been trusted with the position of captain of the Togolese football team.

"Togo have some very talented players and I dearly hope the players who remain will be able to put their memories of Angola behind them and go on to be a success for the nation. The people who were on that coach together will forever be joined by a special bond – we are all brothers."

Adebayor returned to national team duty in 2011 (Nick Potts/PA).

The attack, which happened as the team travelled to Angola for the start of the continental showpiece, saw terrorists open fire on the coach in the Cabinda region.

An assistant coach and the team's press officer, plus the coach's Angolan driver, were killed and defender Serge Akakpo and goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale were among a number of passengers injured.

Togo pulled out of the tournament after the attack and were banned by the Confederation of African Football for the next two editions, a sanction that was later lifted.

Adebayor returned to national team duty in November 2011. The former Arsenal, Tottenham and Crystal Palace man is Togo's record scorer with 32 goals and played for them at the 2006 World Cup.

body check tags ::

amp_article__442822 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-04-12 07:22:39:
html db last update - 2021-04-12 06:18:35 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Share this article now:
EB
Read Next:
Raiola 'wants Haaland to become £1m-a-week player'
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Emmanuel Adebayor Serge Akakpo Kodjovi Obilale Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Raiola 'wants Haaland to become £1m-a-week player'
Video: Thiago Silva confirms Chelsea exit in emotional farewell video
What is treble bet?: A guide to sports betting in 2024

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal35255585285780
2Manchester CityMan City34247382325079
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa35207873522167
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs33186967521560
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341651374551953
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
9Chelsea33139116359448
10Bournemouth35139135260-848
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35137154855-746
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton341111125257-544
13Fulham35127165155-443
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton35128153748-1136
16Brentford3598185260-835
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3579194262-2026
18Luton TownLuton3567224877-2925
19Burnley3559213870-3224
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3537253497-6316
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

This weekend's permutations: Who can be crowned champions, win promotion or suffer relegation?

1

TW

Four players who could replace Thiago Silva at Chelsea

2

FP

Liverpool 'expect 26-year-old to push for summer transfer'

NEW

3

L'

Ex-Chelsea scout reveals Blues nearly signed Man United defender

NEW

4

ES

Arsenal-linked midfielder addresses future with Ligue 1 club

5

AM

Kevin De Bruyne breaks Premier League assist record in Forest win

6

KD

Arsenal coach 'wanted by Feyenoord as Arne Slot replacement'

7

AC

World Cup winner responds to Barcelona transfer speculation

8

WC

Preview: Dortmund vs. PSG - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PD

AC Milan 'lining up move for Aston Villa man'

10

AM


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .