LONDON — Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor insists his decision to miss the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) with Togo is not due to unpaid bonuses.
Report by Reuters
The Togolese striker ruled himself out of contention for the continental showpiece, with reports suggesting his withdrawal was due to unpaid bonuses.
But the 28-year-old has moved to dispel those rumours, instead pointing to a lack of safety and subsequent lack of compassion shown by his country’s government following the horrifying scenes at Angola 2010.
The Togo team bus was the centre of an attack by armed gunmen in which their assistant manager died and several players were seriously injured as they were travelling to the destination of their first match.
“I am hearing people saying I do not want to go to the African Nations Cup because of unpaid bonuses. I do not need a bonus from Togo — it is £1 000 per game,” Adebayor told The Sun.
“I would not refuse to play for my country over money. It is all about the organisation — or lack of it. I was on the bus in Angola when people died in front of me. I held them as they died.
“Even the government do not want to pay for the treatment for the people who survived. It is not right.
“I had to leave a team bus wearing a bullet-proof vest and a bullet-proof helmet. People wanted me dead. I was told I was the target.
“I retired from international football, but people asked me to come back and use my experience — so I agreed.
“I kept telling the FA to get organised, but they have not listened. I am glad we qualified again, but I cannot risk everything.”
