Togo Prime Minister, Gilbert Houngbo sent a plane to bring back the national team after its ordeal last weekend at the hands of terrorists.

Though the players unanimously agreed to carry on with the tournament and pay tribute to their fallen colleagues, Mr. Houngbo said in Lome that the government cannot allow them to continue with the tournament. Togo was due to play Ghana today in Cabinda..

“We understand the position of the players who want to in some way pay tribute to their dead colleagues, but it would be irresponsible for the Togolese authorities to allow them to continue,” Houngbo told reporters in Lome.

“If there is a team or persons present under the banner of Togo at the opening of the Africa Cup of Nations this afternoon, it will be a false representation. The team must return today.”

Captain Emmanuel Adebayor told a French radio station that Togo President Faure Gnassingbe had personally told the team to return, a conversation that turned the team’s decision.

“We all decided to do something good for the country and play to honour those who died,” said Adebayor, a Manchester City striker. “Unfortunately, the head of state and the country’s authorities have decided otherwise. We will pack up and go home.”