The Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor yesterday said his teammates wanted to play in the African Cup of Nations, but ultimately decided to follow the instructions of their government.
A number of players had been quoted in the French media saying they were keen to play on as a mark of respect to those killed and injured in Friday's gun attack in the Angolan enclave of Cabinda.
But the Togo prime minister, Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo, ordered that the team must return home, and they were expected to be collected by the plane of Togo president Faure Gnassingbe last night.
"The head of state [Gnassingbe] has decided we will return," Adebayor told French radio station RMC.
"There was a meeting between players and we said we were still footballers. We all decided to do something good for the country and play to honour those who died.
"Unfortunately, the head of state and the country's authorities have decided otherwise. We will pack up and go home."
Adebayor's comments came after Houngbo announced the government's decision earlier yesterday.
The Togolese prime minister told French newspaper L'Equipe: "We understand the approach of players who wanted to express a way to avenge their fallen comrades, but it would be irresponsible on the part of the authorities to let them continue.
"The team must return today. The government's decision is unchanged.
"It is a conscious decision since Friday. If a team or a person presents themselves under the banner of Togo, it would be a false representation."
Adebayor revealed a conversation he held with Gnassingbe yesterday morning had proved decisive. That's what made the difference," he said.
"It was also our families and loved ones at home who called us. They told us we could continue if we wished but that it is the authorities who have the information. Is there going to be another attack? Nobody knows. If they asked us back home, maybe they received a call saying that the threat has not passed.
"We are obliged to respect that. The head of state knows what is good for our careers and our lives."
* With agencies
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
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Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
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Usain Bolt's World Championships record
2007 Osaka
200m Silver
4x100m relay Silver
2009 Berlin
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2011 Daegu
100m Disqualified in final for false start
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2013 Moscow
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2015 Beijing
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
Match info
Australia 580
Pakistan 240 and 335
Result: Australia win by an innings and five runs
War
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor
Rating: Two out of five stars
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
RESULT
Brazil 2 Croatia 0
Brazil: Neymar (69'), Firmino (90' 3)