Togo's team plane arrived home yesterday after leaving Africa Cup of Nations football tournament over a rebel attack that killed two members of their squad.

Ambushed Togo team returns, might join the Africa Cup later

Togo's team plane arrived home yesterday after leaving Africa Cup of Nations football tournament over a rebel attack that killed two members of their squad.

The plane arrived in Lome around 11:15 pm (2315 GMT), and was met by Prime Minister Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo, members of the government and sports officials, an AFP correspondent reported.

A spokesman for the Confederation of African Football had earlier said the team would be flying home along with their two slain colleagues following Friday's attack as the team arrived in Cabinda for the tournament.

The team headed for home against the players wishes as the Africa Cup of Nations kicked off in Angola.

"It's very sad. It's hard for Africa and for us. These things are part of life, you have to accept it," Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor told AFP at the airport in Cabinda.

Togo could still play
However Togo's African Nations Cup future remained shrouded in uncertainty after it emerged they have asked to return to Angola at a later date.

The players were ordered back home after they had performed a U-turn and decided to play as a mark of respect to the dead. And they may still get their wish after it emerged sports minister Christophe Tchao had asked for their place in the tournament remain open.

He told reporters before the squad left Cabinda: "We have ordered a three-day mourning. The players are leaving with the bodies of their fallen brothers and we have asked the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to find an arrangement so we can catch up with the competition later."

Rebels ambushed the Togo convoy as they drove into the Cabinda enclave from neighbouring Congo-Brazzaville on Friday.