English clubs' plea after Nations Cup gun attack

ENGLISH Premier League clubs are preparing to bring their African stars home if they don't get assurances over their safety, after an attack on the Togo team bus two days before the start of the African Nations Cup in Angola.

The team bus came under an attack that reportedly left the driver dead and six passengers injured, including two of the Togo squad. Romanian club Vaslui confirmed that their defender Serge Akakpo was shot and badly injured in the attack.

Manchester City – whose star striker Emmanuel Adebayor was not harmed in the attack in Cabinda – and Portsmouth have contacted the Football Association, asking them to speak to football's world governing body to ensure players' safety can be guaranteed, and calling for them to be sent home if it cannot.

Aston Villa confirmed their midfielder Moustapha Salifou was "shaken but okay" following the attack.