Togo forward Thomas Dossevi told The Associated Press in a phone interview that the team plans to withdraw from the continent-wide tournament and fly out of the country early Sunday. He said Togo team representatives met with African Football Confederation (CAF) officials Saturday to discuss postponing the tournament, but that no such decision was made.
"We are disappointed by the CAF position, which is that the show must go on whatever happened," Dossevi said, adding that the team would have been willing to play in the tournament if it was postponed.
"Our wish is that the beginning of the competition will be delayed to let us bring our dead people home," he said.
He said he and his teammates had talked to players from other squads and that he thought more teams might pull out as well.
"I can guarantee you that if the CAF doesn't want to delay the start of the competition, there will be other teams that won't play," Dossevi said. "We are footballers, we like to play football, but there are other things that are more important."
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