Adebayor rules out Togo return
Reuters - Wednesday 23 March 2011, 17:54
LOME - Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor
turned down the chance to come out of international retirement
on Wednesday, saying he would not face Malawi despite being
named in the squad for the 2012 African Nations Cup qualifier.
Adebayor quit international football last April, explaining he
was haunted by events at the 2010 African Nations Cup in Angola
where his team's bus was ambushed.
"I did not make promises that I am returning to the squad
for the game in Malawi," the BBC quoted Adebayor as saying after
he was named in a 22-man squad for Saturday's match.
"If I was heading for the game in Malawi I would have long
gone... I have just finished training with Real Madrid and I am
not returning to the Togo squad for the game."
The Togo Football Federation (TFF) had hoped former captain
Adebayor, on loan at Real Madrid from Manchester City, would
join the national team for the game.
"It's important that he returns to the team. Steps are being
made in the right direction (for Adebayor to) show his
patriotism," TFF president Gabriel Ameyi was quoted as saying by
www.togofootballnews.com.
"He has told me to send the invitation. That's what we did."
The TFF has put former coach Stephen Keshi in temporary
charge for Saturday's match, with Ameyi telling Reuters the
search would then begin for a permanent successor to Frenchman
Thierry Froger, who resigned earlier this month.
"Keshi, of course, may apply if he wishes," Ameyi said.
It is the third time Keshi has taken the reins, having also
engineered their surprise qualification for the 2006 World Cup
finals.
He lost his job before that tournament after clashing with
Adebayor in front of reporters at the 2006 Nations Cup in Egypt.