Three people affiliated with the Togo national team were shot and killed yesterday when a rebel group attacked the team's bus with machine guns after it crossed the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo into Angola.
Assistant coach Abalo Amelete, spokesman Stanislas Ocloo, and the driver of the bus have all been pronounced dead. Kodjovi Obilale, the Togo goalie, was originally pronounced dead by teammate Jonathan Ayite, but that statement has since been retracted by Obilale's club team president and head coach.
Seven other members of the team were injured in the attack.
Togo were on their way by bus to participate in the African Cup of Nations, but have since withdrawn from the tournament, which has come under heavy criticism due to lack of security that led to the attack on the Togo national team. No other teams have been reported to have withdrawn from the tournament as of late, with Angola promising to severely increase security surrounding the tournament and teams.
This attack also brings into harsh light how much security Africa as a continent will have to provide this June when the entire world convenes in South Africa for the World Cup. If the African Cup of Nations tournament is in danger, then surely the World Cup, the biggest tournament in the world, will have to provide security exponentially greater than that of the African Cup of Nations.
Several countries are calling for the tournament to be called off after Togo withdrew, but the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is refusing as of late, promising better security for all teams involved.
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