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Togo's cup return plea rejected

Author: Brandon Barker
Date: 12/01/2010
Football betting

Togo's request to return to the Africa Cup of Nations has been rejected, according to reports coming out of host nation Angola.

The squad returned home on Sunday for three days of national mourning following the attack on their team bus which left three members of the support staff dead and reserve goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale hospitalised with gunshot wounds.

Togolese sports minister Christophe Tchao had appealed to the Confederation of African Football to keep his country's place in the tournament open despite their departure.

However, his request to remain part of a rescheduled tournament is believed to have fallen on deaf ears.

Who will win the Africa Cup of Nations? - Latest Football Betting

Tom Hicks Jr has resigned as a Liverpool director in the wake of an e-mail row with a Reds supporter.

Hicks Jr, who is the son of the club's co-owner Tom Hicks, is reported to have stepped down as a director of both the club and its parent company amid allegations of a foul-mouthed tirade aimed at a member of the Spirit of Shankly group.

Meanwhile, Manchester United have revealed pre-tax profits of almost £50million for the latest financial year.

The Red Devils have attributed the rise in profits to £48.2million on the continued success of the club on the pitch and also the world record £80million sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid.

United have also revealed a plan to raise £500million in order to refinance their debts through the sale of bonds.

Owen Coyle claims personal ambition and not financial reasons were behind his decision to swap Burnley for Bolton Wanderers.

Coyle has been widely criticised by Clarets fans following his decision to end his two-year reign at Turf Moor in order to make the move to the Reebok Stadium.

The Scot had led the unfashionable Turf Moor club into the Premier League against all the odds.

However, Coyle has denied suggestions that the move was prompted by financial reasons after citing his decision to turn down an approach from another former club in Celtic last summer.

He explained: "I've never been motivated by money in my life. If it was finance I'd have taken the job at Celtic in the summer. That's just a knee-jerk reaction from people that do not know me."

Elsewhere, England cricket captain Andrew Strauss may be rested for the forthcoming tour of Bangladesh for which his side have been installed as firm favourites to win by the sportsbooks.

Since replacing Kevin Pietersen as captain almost exactly 12 months ago, Strauss has presided over an unprecedented amount of cricket for the national team and Geoff Miller thinks it may be time for the opener to take a break.

England are expected to name their squads to tour the United Arab Emirates and Bangladesh soon after the conclusion of the fourth and final Test against South Africa at The Wanderers, which is scheduled to finish next Monday.

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