Adebayor quits Togo after ‘worst season’
Adebayor has made the decision in the wake of the attack on the Togo team during this year’s African Nations Cup, in which two people were killed.
A statement from the 26-year-old said: “Following the tragic events during January’s African Cup of Nations, in which two of my fellow countrymen were killed by terrorists in Angola, I have made the very difficult decision to retire from international football.
“I have weighed up my feelings in the weeks and months since the attack and I am still haunted by the events which I witnessed on that horrible afternoon on the Togo team bus.
“We were just footballers going to play a football match and represent our country, yet we were attacked by people who wanted to kill us all. It is a moment I will never forget and one I never want to experience again.”
Now the former Arsenal striker prepares to face Manchester United on Saturday at Eastlands, and comes into the game in a rich vein of form.
He scored his second brace in successive games in the 5-1 defeat of Birmingham on Sunday to take his tally for the season to 13 goals.
In the process City cemented fourth place in the Barclays Premier League with five games remaining.
Adebayor said: “I am pleased with my form as this has been the worst season of my life. I got suspended, I got injured, I got attacked. I am just very happy on the pitch now and enjoying myself playing football.
“We have big confidence with some important games coming up and we are ready for them. We are scoring a lot of goals and that is good for us.
“We know it is going to be very difficult but our destiny is in our own hands.
“Everyone is fighting to win games and we all have the same mentality.”
City have scored 14 goals in three games with former United striker Carlos Tevez in arguably the form of his life.
He also grabbed a brace yesterday to take his tally to 28 and with Craig Bellamy in double figures as well the team carry a significant attacking threat.
Adebayor cannot wait to face Alex Ferguson’s side, who are struggling to retain their title after a goal-less draw against Blackburn.
“These are the matches as a striker you want to play in, ” he told www.mcfc.co.uk.
“You want to play against the best defenders and the best teams. You want to test yourself.
“It is an important game for the club to see what we can do. Being at home with our fans behind us we will do our best and hopefully win the game.”
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