I don’t normally jump on sensational stories like this, but most readers will be aware the affection I hold for Moustapha Salifou and I’m not alone by any means.

I’ll update this post as we learn more, but it’s being reported that the Togolese national team bus has been attacked by Angolan rebel soldiers armed with machine guns and there are some injuries.

I don’t know for sure at this stage, but I’m fairly certain that our very own Salifou would have been on that bus.

I will provide updates and links here as the story progresses. My thoughts are with the whole team and their families. I can hardly imagine a more scary scenario than this and as a professional athlete this isn’t something you expect to be the victim of.

Eurosport

Togo player Romao says lot of blood on ground, players can’t think of playing in Af Cup of Nat. Shocking.

Jacqui Oatley – Twitter

BBC World Serv say 2 Togo team doctors & 4 players injured by machine gun fire. Man City have told @bbc5Live Adebayor is fine

Jacqui Oatley – Twitter

Just heard on SSN that the driver has been killed. There are injuries among the players, but Adebayor is not one of them. We are waiting to hear about Salifou.

Reports are saying that the attack occurred en route to Angola from Congo DR, map below.  Update: It appears that the bus was actually attacked coming from Congo, not Congo DR, in an exclave of Angola called Cabinda, which is an area right on the coast. [Updated maps at the end of the post]

I’ve added a Twitter widget in the sidebar that will look for the latest Tweets about the bus attack >>>>>

*** Aston Villa have confirmed that Salifou is “Shaken, but OK” ***

Statement from Aston Villa Football Club:-

Moustapha Salifou has emerged unhurt after the team bus carrying him and his Togo team-mates was attacked on the way to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Gunmen opened fire with machine guns on the bus carrying the Togolese side to the tournament.

Salifou has spoken to his brother Eddie back home in Togo in order to reassure the family of his safety.

Officials say the bus driver was killed and six injured, including two players. Among those hurt were the assistant manager, physio, goalkeeping coach and another coach.

The incident occurred in the Angolan territory of Cabinda after the bus crossed from the Republic of Congo.

The Africa Cup of Nations is due to start on Sunday.

Togo’s first game is to be played on Monday in Cabinda where rebels have been fighting for independence.

The Togolese team also includes Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who is also uninjured.

AVFC.co.uk

@JustFootball has been following the story very closely with a number of insightful updates:-

This could have been far far worse. Reports are the bus in front of Togo’s squad was decimated. Luckily it was carrying the team’s baggage.

JustFootball – Twitter

Although we’re obviously all very relieved to hear that our own Moustapha Salifou is OK, it’s important to remember that there was a whole squad and support staff involved and we still have unconfirmed reports of between 2 and 6 injured, perhaps badly. I think this is a full squad list including the clubs they play for:-

Éric Akoto’s name also stands out as he plays for Maccabi Ahi Nazareth in Israel, currently managed by John Gregory of course.

FC Vaslui confirm their defender Serge Akakpo shot twice & badly injured but out of danger after surgery by doctors

Four Four Two – Twitter

Final Update

It would appear that the Togolese team and staff were relatively fortunate that their attackers targeted the vehicle ahead of them which only contained their luggage. Sadly, one driver was killed and it seems 2 players were injured, but will be OK.

This is the type of tragedy that we’d all prefer not to see in the world today, but it should certainly never be aimed at sport, one of the few things in the world that transcends borders and brings people together. Unfortunately, for that reason it will probably always be a target politically.

There’s many questions being asked already and many more to be asked about the risks that appear to have been taken. Few better have covered this today than Just Football, so I would certainly recommend reading that post.

I’m going to finish off with some updated maps since the one I published above was a little misleading. As the story developed it became clear that the team had been travelling from their training camp in Congo, not Congo DR, to Cabinda, which is an exclave of Angola, the tournament host, and the location for their group stage matches.

The Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda have claimed responsibility and have promised this won’t be their last attack.

Cabinda is similar in size to Cornwall, perhaps slightly smaller.

2010 World Cup

I’ve seen a few knee jerk reactions floating around today and I’m not sure any of them were particularly well informed. I’ve not been to Africa myself and am no expert in any sense of the word, but I do understand that Cabinda is about as far away from South Africa as Tripoli, the capital of Libya, is from London.

Just Saying.