Adebayor announces international retirement

(GSM) – Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor has announced his retirement from international football.

The 26-year-old was on the Togo team bus in January as two people were killed in a gun attack ahead of the African Nations Cup in Angola.

In a statement on his club’s official website, he said: “Following the tragic events during January’s African Cup of Nations, in which two of my fellow countrymen were killed by terrorists in Angola, I have made the very difficult decision to retire from international football.

“I have weighed up my feelings in the weeks and months since the attack, and I am still haunted by the events which I witnessed on that horrible afternoon on the Togo team bus. We were just footballers going to play a football match and represent our country, yet we were attacked by people who wanted to kill us all. It is a moment I will never forget and one I never want to experience again.

“For nine years I have played for the Togo team and, despite the events in Angola, I have some very good memories of my international career. I feel very proud to have been trusted with the position of captain of the Togolese football team. Leading your country in international competition is the ultimate honour for any player.

“Togo have some very talented players, and I dearly hope the players who remain will be able to put their memories of Angola behind them and go onto be a success for the nation. I have enormous belief in each and every one of them, players, coaches, staff and their families.

“The people who were on that coach together will forever be joined by a special bond – we are all brothers. I will always have the team and the people of Togo close to my heart and wish them every success in the challenges that they will face in the future.”