I thought I was going to die says Adebayor

Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor sent his parents a text message saying he was about to die during last month’s terrorist attack on the squad’s team bus at the Africa Nations Cup.

Adebayor looked on in horror as bullets riddled the bus in an attack that killed an assistant coach and the squad’s spokesman and led Togo to pull out of the tournament.

Manchester City star Adebayor, speaking on BBC1’s Football Focus television programme, admitted he feared his life was about to end during the assault in the northern Angolan province of Cabinda in January.

“I sent texts to my mum and dad saying ‘I’m going to die’,” Adebayor said. “To explain what happened (on the coach) is difficult… you can’t imagine the sound of the bullets.

“I have one more chance to be alive – but what God has given to you he can take back.”

The 25-year-old admits his recent subdued goal celebrations with City are a a result of his changed outlook following the attack.

“When I came back to Manchester City all the players were very nice to me — they gave me more confidence. But I have a different perspective on everything now. I’m happy to be alive,” he said.

“When I scored a goal before the joy came into my body, it was an emotion. That’s gone, I don’t know why. I hope it comes back.

“I haven’t lost my motivation for scoring goals but when I hear the noise (of the crowd celebrating) it’s not giving me anything inside my body at all.”

Togo were banned from taking part in the next two editions of the Africa Nations Cup and hit with a fine following their withdrawal from this year’s tournament, which the Confederation of African Football said was a result of forbidden government interference.

Adebayor added: “We went to play in the Africa Nations Cup and suffered a terrorist attack where two people died, our goalkeeper is still in hospital and we don’t know if he can play again, some players have bullets in their body — and we got banned.

“Every single night I try to understand what is going on — but I can’t.”