CAF hit back in Togo’s row

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) insists it was right to ban Togo from the next two African Cup of Nations tournaments despite widespread criticism of the decision.



CAF also lashed out at what it called ‘the press campaign aimed at tarnishing the image of high personalities of the hierarchy of African football.’



Togo were banned from the next two editions tournaments and fined $50,000 for withdrawing from the event in Angola.



They withdrew after a gun attack on their party killed two people and injured several others, on the insistence of the Togolese government.



CAF say the Togolese players had wanted to stay, and therefore the decision to pull them out amounted to ‘government interference.’



The CAF ruling has been widely condemned in various circles including governments, footballers and fans while protests were held in Lome against the ban.