Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor has pulled out of the team and will likely not be participating at the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
The Tottenham striker announced the decision on Saturday in a statement released by his communications officer Amedodji Blaise in the country’s capital Lome.
“Togo international and captain of the Sparrow Hawks Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor hereby brings to the notice of the general public that he is suspending his international career with Togo national team,” the statement said.
The 28-year-old former Manchester City and Arsenal player criticised Togo football federation days ago for withholding the sum of €35,000 paid to the body by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation following their 1-0 win over Morocco in a friendly match played in Casablanca on November 14.
Officials shot back on Thursday, saying the amount was not meant for the payment of match bonuses but to cover air tickets, hotel and feeding bills of the players and technical staff during the international friendly.
The local media on Friday revealed a long-running feud between Adebayor and the Hawks’ central defender Nibombe Dare, who is said to be close to the FA president Gabriel Ameyi.
Adebayor, who left the team in 2010 after a gunfire attack on their bus in Angola, made a definite comeback this year and participated in the 2013 Afcon qualifying campaign.
He concluded in his statement by saying that the unwholesome atmosphere within the outfit would not allow the group to achieve its objective.
Togo are pitted against Algeria, Tunisia and Cote D’Ivoire in Group D and will open their campaign against the Elephants on January 22 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, South Africa.
Source: Goal.com
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