Togo’s involvement in the African Nations Cup is over following their failure to appear for their opening match against Ghana tonight. There had been uncertainty over their intentions since the team returned home from Angola after a gun attack on their team bus which left three people reportedly dead last Friday.

The Confederation of African Football have been largely silent on the matter amid conflicting reports over whether the team would return to Angola.

But an official told reporters this afternoon that if the west African side were not on the pitch come kick-off for their first game, they would be disqualified from the event.

The Togo players failed to take the pitch for their Group B opener, scheduled to kick off at 6.30pm, putting an end to any lingering doubt over their involvement in the tournament.

“The referee has received the order to blow the starting whistle and if the Togolese players are not there, they will have lost the match and will be disqualified,” a CAF official said this afternoon.

Reports had suggested Togo filed a formal request to return after a three-day period of mourning but that was denied by CAF.

The CAF official added: “Togo have not taken official steps to come back and play the African Nations Cup. We have just heard this rumour in the press.”
Togo’s sports minister Christophe Tchao was quoted this morning as saying a formal request had been made but Prime Minister Gilbert Houngbo later denied they intended to re-enter the tournament.