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Felt I had to put a quick blog today after the events in Africa.
If your not aware the Togo National team were attacked by rebel fighters on the border of Angola and Cabinda, 2 players were injured the driver is thought to have been killed. At this time the Togo team are deciding whether or not to continue with the tournament, due to start on Monday, I can see no reason how they would be able to play after going through such a traumatic experience.
I don’t want the whole tournament cancelled as I always enjoy the African festival of fooball they put on, but to have people’s lives in danger is just not worth it, and if FIFA and the Angolian goverment cannot guarentee the safety of the players then the tournament cannot go ahead, what does this also say about the World Cup in June.
I hope it goes ahead, more likely without the shocked Togo team, I’m sure we’ll all know more over the weekend.
I am working on a little African Cup of Nations preview so that should be up this weekend.
All the best
It seems that Togo have now withdrawn from the CAN. Not surprised by this decision, but a little concerned about Phil Brown’s calls for all players to return to their clubs – what are your thoughts on this?
My condolences go out to the families of the three memebrs of the Togalese contingent that have died.
I echo your thoughts on the families of the people that have passed away, I am not surprised they have withdrawn, it was the right thing to do, and I can’t see anyone disputing their decision, there are a few things that are coming out that need answered though, if the CAF have told all teams to travel by plane for security reasons, and the Togo team have then travelled by bus, you can’t blame the security they provided.
I understand where Phil Brown is coming from you don’t want players in danger, however we don’t know in how danger they would have been if they hadn’t travelled in a route that hadn’t been cleared, I would suspect now with the security stepped up, there would by very little danger of another incident, I would like the competition to go ahead, There is a cynical side inside me that says we all know how much the Premier League are against this competition at this time of the season, so would there be any thoughts of getting the players back involved in Brown’s comments, I would hope not, but you never know.
Also if one team’s players are removed they all will be, I can’t see it being team specific, then the tournament would be cancelled.
I always think in these situations if people just give up, then the terrorists win, that’s what they want, to cause disruption, I want it to go ahead.