Hull boss Phil Brown has led calls for Premier League players at the Africa Cup of Nations to return home after the Togo bus came under gunfire in Angola.The coach driver was killed in Friday's attack, while two Togo players were also shot and injured.
Hull's Gabon striker Daniel Cousin and Nigerian midfielder Seyi Olofinjana are among numerous Premier League players in Africa for the tournament.
And Brown told The Sun: "I have two players on duty and I want them home."
Defender Serge Akakpo and reserve goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale were hit in the sustained attack while several other players required hospital treatment and were later seen with bandages on legs, hands and faces.
Togo captain and Manchester City striker Emanuel Adebayor, who was on the coach but emerged unharmed, says the team is considering whether to withdraw from the tournament, although organisers insist the competition, which begins on Sunday when host nation Angola play Mali, will go on.
But Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, who does not have any players at the tournament, said: "It's frightening. It's worth considering calling the whole thing off. We can't just sit around and wait for the next shooting."
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill expressed his shock at the incident but was relieved his midfielder Moustapha Salifou was not among the injured.
"The club have been in contact with him and he has reassured us that he is okay but he is extremely shocked and upset, which he would be in these circumstances."
Portsmouth have four players at the tournament and club spokesman Gary Double said they had sought reassurance from the English Football Association and world governing body Fifa about their players' security.
"Our players' safety is paramount and if that can't be guaranteed the players should be sent home," he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment