Togo's Ban is Outrageous

Wleh Bedell

Another nations cup has come and gone leaving behind fond memories. The Pharoahs of Egypt proved they are the kings of Africa after they completed the hat trick to become the first nation on the continent to win three consecutive titles, their seventh in all, an enviable feat which no other country can match.

 Their 60 year old tactician Hassan Shehatta has his name written in the annals of history by becoming the first coach to win three titles in a row, thus eclipsing Ghana's C.K. Gyamfi who before then, was the greatest coach after winning three titles in 1962, 1965 and 1982. Gyamfi who was the first black man to play in Germany when he styled for Fortuna Dusseldorf in 1960, has now being toppled by the grey headed man on the side line after 18 years of enjoying the "most successful coach" accolade.

 Shehatta indeed proved to have the magic wand and proper blend of local talents as his predominantly local based squad no doubt surmounted the task as big names on the continent including Nigeria's Super Eagles, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun, Algeria's Fennecs and a deplete cum youthful Black Stars  of Ghana (all world cup representatives) succumbed to the seven times African champions.

With their influencial captain Ahmed Hassan passing the 170 caps mark as he became the world third most capped player, the top two, Saudi Arabian goalkeeping legend Mohammed Al Deayea with 181 caps after playing international football for 15 years and 229 days from September 24, 1990 to May 11, 2006 and the great Claudio Suarez of Mexico with 177 caps after 13 years and 311 days of international football from July 25, 1992 to June 1, 2006, the diminutive playmaker Ahmed Hassan could get pass the top two if he decides to continue playing as they have since left the park. From December 29, 1995 to January 31, 2010,Hassan is still strong despite 14 years and 30 days of international football.

But, while the Egyptians might be enjoying the plaudits after an eventful tournament, kudos must as well be given to the brave Ghanaians who despite the absence of an avalanche of  big name stars stunned the form book by ending as runners up after a little lack of concentration caused fantastic super sub Mohamed "Gedo" Nagy  to punish them five minutes to the end in the final duel.

Though the 27th edition of the nations cup captivated football followers in Africa and perhaps the world over, its venue Angola will long be remembered not just for football reasons but security as well.

An attack on the Togo national team bus by arm men few days to the kick off of such a great tournament certainly took some spice out of it especially in the Cabinda region where the gruesome attack took place.

It was quite a melancholic issue as things went haywire. And, while the Togo, Ghana clash was still scheduled for the following day after the opening day of the competition between Angola's Palancas Negras and star sprinkled Mali Eagles which witnessed an eight goal thriller, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) seemed more interested in the tournament order than the safety or well being of the competing nations.

Though it was reported that the players had later agreed to play despite the death of the  54 year old deputy coach Amelete Abalo, and the 35 year old press officer Stonislas Ocloo who ended bachelorhood just three days earlier, the government of Togo had to step in, something every government would do. Furtermore, to say that the players agreed to play after the incident is quite a weak argument as no where in the world a football governing body like CAF would rely on players decision rather than the authorities. With no official word from the Togolese Football Federation (TFF), it was quite laughable for Hayatou led CAF to take the players decision as that of the authorities resulting to the ban on Togo.

By law, every government has the right to protect its citizens no matter the condition. Such attack which the Angolan government described as "an act of terrorism" no doubt meant that concrete actions had to be taken by the Togolese government in ordering its citizens back home in the wake of the babaric attack by some miscreants in Angola whose trigger happy attitude caused a major stir as far as the safety of many was concerned.

 From an analytical view,this was such a critical issue and the government of Togo made the wisest of decisions to recall the team.

With the Togolese pulling out, thus bringing to the fore fifteen teams in the competition which was reminiscent of the 1996 nations cup in South Africa where then reigning champs Nigeria pulled out after that country's government headed by the late sanni Abacha cited security fear in the host nation.

It can be recollected that the hallubalu arose when South Africa led the protest for the suspension of Nigeria from the common wealth for a three year period  after the Nigerian government executed Kenule "Ken" Beeson Saro- Wiwa and eight Oguni activists. The Condeferation of African Football (CAF) would then suspend Nigeria from the 1998 edition in Burkina Faso. That could have being justifiable from a CAF perspective since the decision of the government was somehow questionable. But, to suspend Togo from two nations cup in the wake of such tragic event in Angola, the host country which led to its government calling for a withdrawal, the African football governing body has indeed missed out. To virtually "witchhunt"  "bereaved Togo" just for exposing security problems on the part of the organizers is very unfair and CAF must rescind such decision.

A very cardinal issue on the lips of many is whether CAF was more concerned of the games being played order than the security of the competing teams. Was it wrong for the governmennt to order its citizens to return home after such a malicious attack? If CAF claims it was inteference, was it not expedient on the part of the government? or is it because Issa Hayatou is from a country where a certain dictator, Paul Biya is continuously oppressing the people without any remorse?

From all indication, the decision by the continent's football house is quite outrageous, inhumane, uncouth and unscrupulous which must be condemned by any well meaning football follower who is also keen on respecting the fundamental rights of fellow human being.

Is CAF saying to play the nations cup is more important than the life of a single human being in such a situation? Hayatou led CAF must certainly rethink and expunge such an ugly decision. The TFF must use all legal means in fighting such an unwanted decision in their quest to improve the continent's game.

Hayatou and his accomplices idea to ruin Togo and probably world football is quite picturesque of their numerous reckless judgements, and it is high time a new leadership get at the helm of CAF in finding a panacea to the numerous problems that are greatly affecting the game on this multi talented continent of ours.

With African football behind many parts of the world in terms of organization and infrastructure, a leadership with dynamism must get at the helm of CAF to take the game to another level.