Emmanuel Adebayor is an iconic football figure in the tiny West African nation of Togo. He stunned the Togo fans in 2010 after he announced his retirement from international football.
Adebayor made the announcement on the back of the attack on the Togolese team bus during the 2010 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Angola. Popular media outlet Sports Mole celebrated the 11th anniversary of his retirement from international football last month.
Terrorists opened fire on the Togolese national team bus while they were travelling to Angola for the AFCON tournament. Three members of the contingent, including the bus driver, were killed as a result of the attack. An assistant coach and a press officer also lost their lives to the attack.
Goalkeeper KodjoviObilale and defender Serge Akakpowere among several passengers that were injured from the attack. The incident prompted Togo to withdraw from the tournament. The withdrawal led to the ban from the African football body, Confederation of African Football (CAF), the ban on Togolese football was lifted much later.
Emmanuel Adebayor spent almost two years in the international wilderness before he rescinded his decision to retire from national team football. He was a Manchester City player and at the age of 26 when he announced the decision to retire from international football. Emmanuel Adebayor is a legend as far as Togolese football is concerned and he holds the record for the most goals scored for the Hawks.
The former Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid and Crystal Palace attacker has 32 goals in 87 games for the team since he made his debut in. 2000. He represented Togo at the 2006 FIFA World Cup tournament in Germany.