Africa Cup of Nations - blog

Banning and billing Togo

by Paul Myers

Article published on the 2010-01-31 Latest update 2010-01-31 10:04 TU

Pallbearers carry the coffin with the remains of Togolese Assistant Soccer Coach Abalo during the funeral service in the Togolese capital Lome, earlier this month
(Photo: Reuters)

The Coupe d’Afrique des Nations is coming to a close. The final takes place on Sunday afternoon between the defending champions Egypt and the young pretenders Ghana.

It’s intriguing, as Egypt have won the past two competitions and are going for a record third on the trot.

Ghana’s team is populated by tyros. Five of the "senior" players are missing so it’s something of a feat that they’re in the showdown. The midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah told me a couple of days ago that they weren’t in the final to take up space.

They were going out to win.

I thought that Angola would see them off in the quarter-finals. Nigeria ought to have beaten them in the semis in view of the number of chances they created. But credit to the youngsters, they’ve been diligent and rigorous.

And they’ve deserved their luck.

Egypt though should deliver what my other predictions have failed to do.

While speculation and analysis should be order of the day ahead of the final. The bigwigs at the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) have, with almost sinister incompetence, ensured that we must rewind three weeks and relive an awful moment.

Following a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee, it was announced that Togo would be suspended from the 2012 and 2014 CANs and fined 50,000 US dollars.

You might remember Togo pulled out just before this year’s tournament after three people on the Togo squad buses were murdered in an attack in the northern enclave of Cabinda.

After many tears, hours of hesitation and deliberation, the squad said it wanted to play on as their tribute to the victims. But the Togo government said "no, it’s inappropriate" and told the squad to come home. The squad complied.

In the games right after the assault, there was a minute of silence just before kick off to commemorate the dead and injured. That’s been dropped in the last few matches that I’ve seen.

On Saturday, January 30, 2010, the CAF Executive Committee said it was merely following the rules of the organisation and of the CAN, which expressly forbid any kind of political interference.

Now this is a valid general point and one to be cherished. But adhering to it without looking at the specifics? As far as I’ve noted, no one has been agitating for Togo’s suspension under this law. And if the rules are so clear, precise and wonderful, why not trumpet their splendour straight away after Togo withdrew?

All the CAF suits had to say was "hey lads, you weren’t following CAF guidelines on travelling to a venue. And look, to a certain extent, you’ve paid the price. You’ve been ambushed and machine gunned by a group who’ve got a murderous grievance against Angola’s government".

"But that’s a mere bagatelle. Forget the three dead. Laugh off that most of you came within inches of your own death and get on a field to play in our prestigious football fest".

"Wait a second, your government says you’ve got to go home. That’s interference. We can’t have that. We’re forced by regulations (article 78, clause 36) to kick you out of the next two competitions".

"By the way you owe us 50,000 dollars".

If the executive committee had come out and outlined this to a watching world three weeks ago, I’m sure everyone really would have said, "You know what? Those CAF boys are dead right. You can’t have politicians deciding whether a side in shock should play football. Hang Togo high for pulling out their bullet-ridden team".

Given that no one would have stomached it 21 days ago, what makes the executives think that this is going to make this a joyous end to the games ?

It has furnished us with symmetry though. The separatists of the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (Flec), who claimed responsibility for the attack, overshadowed the start.

The very same group are probably dancing in delight up in the Maiombe Forest reserve as their separatist quest is – thanks to the CAF Executive Committee – right to the fore as we approach the climax.

On Saturday I talked about the savagery of the system in Angola. It infects the driving, the writhing at airports, the stasis. With this CAF decision the endemic brutality has merely reached its apotheosis.

Angola, like so many countries touched by conflict, covets reconstruction and capital injection. But spiritual guidance is a prerequisite too on the path to social normality. The metaphysics of nation-building are as crucial as gushing oil wells, statement skyscrapers and bristling six lane highways.

Here was a chance for executive power to display insight, sensitivity, compassion and - especially for this country - humanity.

But instead, CAF President Issa Hayatou and the crew hide behind official communiques which spew out rules and regulations. It’s a sickening announcement. None of the executive members who agreed to put their names to it are worthy to hold the drip by the bedside of Kodjovi Obilalé who’s still in a South African hospital recovering from wounds sustained in the attack.

If he’s ever able to play football again, he’s barred from competing in this putative showpiece tournament for four years.

The Angolan government and President José Eduardo dos Santos have been badly served by this decision. Stitched up a treat actually, because they’ve bankrolled this CAF clan to bring a hearty and happy feast here.

We’re all going to remember the 2010 tournament for all the wrong reasons, murder, mayhem and ultimately this madness.

Of course Togo can appeal against the Executive Committee’s decision and they will do so. But it’s immoral that, on top of mourning their dead and nursing their injured, they have to deal with this administrative atrocity.

This CAN is simply beyond the pale.