Emmanuel Adebayor rules out Togo return

Adebayor has rejected the Togolese Football Federation's claims that he will return for the Hawks in Malawi at the weekend

By Ebow Godwin
BBC Sport, Lome

Emmanuel Adebayor has denied that he will return for Togo in Saturday's Nations Cup qualifier in Malawi.

Togo Football Federation chief Gabriel Ameyi told reporters the Real Madrid striker would end his exile this week.

"I did not make promises that I am returning to the squad for the game in Malawi," Adebayor, who has been named in the Hawks squad, told BBC Sport.

However, Nigeria's Stephen Keshi has returned to take charge of the team for a third time, replacing Thierry Froger.

Adebayor retired from international football after a gun attack on the Togo team bus at the 2010 Nations Cup killed two members.

And after travelling to Madrid to meet with Adebayor, TFF president Gabriel Ameyi says he received an undertaking that the former Togo captain's year-long absence was set to end.

But this has been denied by the former Arsenal and Manchester City player.

"If I was heading for the game in Malawi I would have long gone," Adebayor told BBC Sport.

"I have just finished training with Real Madrid and I am not returning to the Togo squad for the game," he confirmed.

However, Keshi is already in Togo to lead he previously coached between 2004-2006, a spell when he qualified the Hawks for the 2006 World Cup, and in 2007.

But a run-in with the Togolese federation after the 2006 Nations Cup meant Keshi was replaced before Germany 2006 got underway.

Keshi, who has yet to sign an agreement with the TFF, has returned for a third time after Froger resigned to take charge of French side Nimes earlier this month.

The Hawks, who lie fourth in their five-team group, need to beat Malawi in Group K if they are to have any hope of securing an unlikely qualification for the 2012 Nations Cup.