The inspirational captain added: "We can't be in a period of mourning and at the same time be in a festival of sport.”

A gun attack on their team bus in the Cabinda enclave resulted in the death of three people - an assistant coach, press officer and bus driver – while several other players were injured.

The West African country has declared three days of mourning for the dead and injured.

Consistent persuasion from top officials of the Confederation of African Football for the team to rescind their decision failed.

Togo's Prime Minister Gilbert Houngbo condemned the attack and said his side withdrew because they cannot guarantee the safety of the players.

Astonishment

However, Angolan officials had earlier expressed astonishment that the team had travelled there by road from their base in Congo-Brazzaville.

The separatist rebel Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (Flec), which has fought for independence for several decades but entered into a ceasefire in 2006, later claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Angolan government, which had hoped the tournament would show how well it had recovered from the fighting, called the incident an "act of terrorism".

CAF president Issa Hayatou said he had received a guarantee that security would be increased for all teams and at all venues. Hayatou has visited the Togolese players in Cabinda, encouraging them to stay on with the competition for the sake of their deceased colleagues and for the solidarity of the game.

Football's world governing body Fifa has expressed its concern about the attack. "Fifa and its President, Joseph Sepp Blatter, are deeply moved by Friday’s incidents which affected Togo's national team, to whom they express their utmost sympathy. Fifa is in touch with the African Football Confederation, CAF, and its President, Issa Hayatou, from which it expects a full report on the situation.” said a statement.

See also:

Angola 2010: Two arrested over Togo attack