According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), website: http://www.cafonline.com the current CAF president agreed to authorize the Executive Committee of African Football to lift the Togo ban on 7 May 2010.
CAF president, Issa Hayatou of Cameroon, agreed to authorize the CAF Executive Committee to lift the 30 January 2010 ban on Togo after a meeting attended by FIFA president, Blatter, CAF president Hayatou, and members of the Togolese Football Federation on 7 May 2010 at Zurich, Switzerland.
Seven days after the Zurich meeting, the CAF Executive Committee held a meeting on 14 May 2010 at Cairo, Egypt to lift the Togo ban Effective 14 May 2010. This means Togo will no longer be excluded from the 2012 and 2014 African Cup of Nations tournaments.
Togo will also have the opportunity to participate in the qualifying series of the 2012 African Cup of Nations Tournament. Togo is likely to be placed in Group K, for the qualifying series. Group K, is currently made up of Malawi, Botswana, Tunisia and Chad.
On behalf of Africa and World Football fans, I want to take the opportunity to thank FIFA president Joseph Blatter for his intervention. Also, many thanks to the CAF president, the Executive Committee Members of CAF, the Togo Federation of Football, the people of Togo, president Mills of Ghana, sports journalists who published numerous article on about the ban, and all Football loving fans in Africa and the world for getting the Togo ban lifted.
Today, 14 May 2010 is a good day for Africa and world Football. I believe strongly that the decision to lift the Togo ban is a huge loss for the terrorists. FIFA and CAF have sent a strong message to the terrorist that Football fans around the world are united against terrorism.
I have no doubt that CAF will regain the respect of Football fans around Africa and the world for lifting the Togo ban.
I want to end by again encouraging CAF to organize a charity game between the national team of Togo and the best eleven players of Africa to raise funds to support the family members of the dead. This will also give CAF the best platform to let the terrorist know that Football unites and strengthens the bond between Villages, Cities, Tribes, Countries, and the world. God bless Africa.
By: Nick Amuna
Email: nicamuna@yahoo.com
U.S.A
