CAF executive clears Togo to play in Nations Cup

Togo were officially cleared to play in the 2012 African Nations Cup qualifying competition after an African Football Confederation (CAF) executive meeting in Cairo Friday, a statement said.

The tiny west African country had been barred from the next two editions of the biennial qualifiers after withdrawing from the 2010 finals in Angola last January without informing the organisers.

A rebel attack on the Togolese team bus as it entered the restive Angolan enclave of Cabinda after a training camp in neighbouring Congo claimed the lives of an assistant coach and an official.

While the footballers eventually opted to fulfil their three mini-league fixtures, government pressure led them to quit and although the suspension triggered criticism, Togo conceded they broke CAF regulations.

After Togo took the issue to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), CAF president Issa Hayatou and FIFA counterpart Sepp Blatter agreed to lift the ban pending executive committee approval.

In an amended 2012 group draw released by CAF, Togo have been added to Group K and will compete with Tunisia, Botswana, Chad and Malawi for two places at finals being co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.