Emmanuel Adebayor Reflects on the 2010 Togo Attack That Changed His Life

Former Togo national football captain Emmanuel Adebayor has talked about the horrific attack on his team's bus in Cabinda, Angola, on January 8, 2010, a few days before the Africa Cup of Nations. Adebayor claims the attack permanently altered his life, killing many members of the gang and seriously injuring others.

During the attack, the Togolese team was shot at by armed fighters. Assistant coach Amelete Abalo and media officer Stanislas Ocloo were killed. Adebayor saw Ocloo die from his injuries.

In a heartfelt interview with BBC Sport Africa, Adebayor talked about the fear he felt during the attack, thinking he might not survive. "I had never seen someone die before. That day changed something inside me," Adebayor said.

The gunman continued by explaining how the tragic event gave him a new perspective on life, saying, "You have to embrace and enjoy every single moment as if it is the last one, because you never know when that is."

Adebayor also talked about the tense phone contact he had with his pregnant partner during the pandemonium, asking her to name their unborn kid in case he didn't make it out alive. "Listen, give the baby the name Junior Emmanuel if he is a male. Fearing the worst, he told them to call her Princess Emmanuella if she was a little girl.

The violent shooting also left goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale seriously injured, and Adebayor credits Manchester City for offering him psychological support, which helped him through the aftermath of the attack. However, the trauma still lingers for Adebayor, particularly when he hears sounds resembling gunshots.

Adebayor still remembers the friends and teammates he lost that day fifteen years later.