Thousands protest at Togo Cup ban

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LOME, Feb 6, 2010 (AFP) - Thousands of people took to the streets of Lome on Saturday to protest against their national football team being banned from the next two editions of the African Cup of Nations.

Organisers and press reports said between 25,000 and 50,000 demonstrated in the capital against Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Issa Hayatou's decision to ban Togo from the 2012 and 2014 tournaments.

Protesters brandished placards and waved banners denouncing the ruling and calling for the CAF president to resign.

Hayatou suspended Togo for "governmental interference" in their decision to quit last month's tournament in Angola after an ambush on their team bus left two members of their delegation dead.

Togo captain and Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor has slammed the ruling as an "outrageous decision" and echoed calls for Hayatou, a Cameroonian, to step down.