The way Togo sent a Presidential jet to evacuate their traumatized national soccer team from the African  Cup of Nations venue in Angola reminds me of the 1976 incident at the Montreal Olympics in Canada when Nigeria diverted a London-Lagos national airline to evacuate  Nigerian athletes from the Olympic Village.

The difference is that, whereas the Angolan episode was to save the Togolese footballers from further trauma following banditry from so-called freedom fighters who actually killed two Togolese football officials and the Angolan driver of the bus carrying the contingent, the Montreal incident  could be described as plain sabotage of the Olympic Games

African and some Caribbean countries had threatened to boycott the Games in protest against Canada’s relations with Apartheid South Africa, but before a consensus could be reached, Nigeria had taken the lead to quit the Games Village and the rest of Africa with the notable exception of Senegal also quit thus robbing the world’s number one sports festival a large chunk of its splendour.

I remember quite well the huge debate in the Ghana camp whether it was prudent to mix politics with sports and that the long preparation by the sportsmen and sportswomen must be taken into consideration when taking such decisions. It’s the same argument that nearly divided the ranks of the Togolese officials as to boycott the Angola Cup of Nations or not. In the end, even though some of the players were spoilt for action, politics triumphed when the question of national interest popped its head. It was a dramatic decision matched only by the dramatic manner those bandits chose to make their point at the expense of such a high profile football tournament.

I believe it was a good decision by Togo to quit the championships. It will put the organizers on the alert and would not take chances like the Angolan coach did in the opening match against Mali where his false tactical moves of withdrawing top striker Flavio put pressure on his team and he saw his brilliant 4-0 lead wiped away in ten minutes.

It was one of the most dramatic come backs in football history and it has already set the stage for more dramas in the tournament. Any wonder that Malawi who drew goalless with the Black Stars in a recent trial match thrashed Algeria 3-0 in their opening group match and the much heralded Cote d’ivoire star studded Elephants were held to a pulsating goalless draw by Burkina Faso I cannot wait for the Black Stars- Cote d’Ivoire match on Friday.

This tournament in Angola will surely provide dramas in several other ways

Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.