Togo disqualified from AFCON

semiautomatix

semiautomatix

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'CAF decision ridiculous'

Cabinda - Togo have been officially disqualified from the African Nations Cup after the squad flew home on Sunday following the deadly gun attack on their bus in Cabinda two days earlier.

“They are disqualified. This group (B) is a three-team tournament,” Confederation of African Football (CAF) co-ordinator Yaouba Amoa told reporters on Monday.

Togo’s assistant coach and media officer were killed and reserve goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale seriously wounded by separatists from the enclave of Cabinda in Friday’s attack.

Monday’s Group B match between Togo and Ghana had been scheduled as the second part of a doubleheader. Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast shared a 0-0 draw in the first game at the new Chazi Stadium in Cabinda.

Togo midfielder Thomas Dossevi described the CAF decision as “ridiculous”.

“It would have been simple for us to come back and play on January 21, I think Ghana would have agreed to that,” he told Reuters by telephone.

“It is a serious and ridiculous decision. Everybody wanted us to be here and play the African Nations Cup.”

Togo left Angola on a chartered flight sent to collect them after the attack but had expressed the hope they might be able to return and compete at the tournament.

Several players spoke of their willingness to play on but they were ordered home by Togo’s government.

The CAF official said it would be impossible to change the tournament schedule.
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These guys go home for the funerals of those killed. They ask for some compassion from CAF considering it was a result of travelling to this tournament that resulted in the deaths members of the Togo entrourage. The ask for a postponement of one game. And CAF disqualifies them?

I would not be impressed. So much for the tournament going on and not letting the terrorists win. The terrorists succeeded in forcing the disqualification of one of the teams. It appears they have a small victory.
 
i think its harsh to disqualify them? why not say they pulled out due to the attack?
 
rurapente said:
i think its harsh to disqualify them? why not say they pulled out due to the attack?
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Because they wanted to return and play their match at a later stage. Perhaps CAF should have said it is in the best interests of the Togo team that they insist they do not play this tournament. *shrug*
 
maybe they should have stuck around and waited for the rest of the team to get shot?

honestly. when something like this happens in cricket, the entire tournament gets moved to another country- take, for example, the ipl last year. or countless other sub-continental matches.

it's crazy that in africa everybody kinda expects it and just carries on like nothing's happened. good for you togo.
 
What utter rubbish. It's those fatcats that should be shot. Tossers.
 
it just standard procedure... according to afcon rules if any team misses a fixture they are deemed as disqualified....it might seem to be a harsh word used in the circumstance but thats exactly what it is...they missed thier fixture so they disqualified.
 
*SynergyX* said:
it just standard procedure... according to afcon rules if any team misses a fixture they are deemed as disqualified....it might seem to be a harsh word used in the circumstance but thats exactly what it is...they missed thier fixture so they disqualified.
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Are you really telling me that the rules couldn't be bent for a very very good bloody reason. How about going to your team mate's funeral? Utter rubbish.
 
I remember the Nigerian team was killed in a plane crash one year.

That was the year Bafana Bafana won if I remember correctly.

I don't know why these guys want to play but if they do they should be able to, AFCON should give them a break.
 
smokey said:
Are you really telling me that the rules couldn't be bent for a very very good bloody reason. How about going to your team mate's funeral? Utter rubbish.
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uhmm they were recalled by their government....and its their very own government which is baring them from going to play.....so...uhm first check ur facts:)
 
smokey said:
Are you really telling me that the rules couldn't be bent for a very very good bloody reason. How about going to your team mate's funeral? Utter rubbish.
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theere are standard procediures. changing the schedule would involve FIFA as there are set number of days against which clubs are obliged to have their players playing in the tournament. so it is not as simple as you may think it is.
 
smokey said:
Are you really telling me that the rules couldn't be bent for a very very good bloody reason. How about going to your team mate's funeral? Utter rubbish.
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Marc Vivien Foe of Cameroon collapsed and died on the pitch during the Confed Cup in France. The match scheduled carried on as planned.
Cameroon went on to win the match and reached the final where they narrowly lost to France.

I don't think Togo's government were justified in recalling the players. The players wanted to play in memory of the dead.
 
JungleBoy said:
Marc Vivien Foe of Cameroon collapsed and died on the pitch during the Confed Cup in France. The match scheduled carried on as planned.
Cameroon went on to win the match and reached the final where they narrowly lost to France.

I don't think Togo's government were justified in recalling the players. The players wanted to play in memory of the dead.
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umh..i think these are two different dimensions to this argument.... after all the late marc collapsed and died natural causes....as the other was a "terrorist" attack...government has right to protect its ppl no??
 
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