Togo Soccer Team Punished After Ambush by Gunmen

The Confederation of African Football has banned Togo's national soccer team from participating in the next two African Cup of Nations tournaments. It's punishment for the squad's decision to withdraw from this year's tournament following an attack on the team bus in Angola, reports AFP. Three people were killed.

CAF said its ruling was based on "governmental interference" surrounding the team's decision not to play. "The players publicly expressed their willingness to return to the Nations Cup to compete," said the CAF statement. But the Togo government "decided to call back their national team." CAF also hit Togo with a $50,000 fine. An appeal is planned.
(More Togo stories.)