Togolese 多哥 footballing stars from the Premier League were amongst those attacked by armed men 有武裝的 as their bus crossed into Angola from the Republic of Congo on Friday.

The Togolese national squad 國家隊 was en route to participate in the African Cup of Nations 非洲國家杯足球賽 tournament when gunmen opened fire on them, killing the bus driver and two Togolese officials.

Several members of the squad were also wounded 受傷 in the 30-minute machine-gun attack, which was carried out by a local separatist rebel group 反叛分離組織.

The Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor, who plays for Manchester City, told reporters the ambush 伏擊 was "one of the worst things I've ever been through in my life" - to go through has the same meaning as to experience something.

"It was like we were living in a dream. I'm still under shock," he said.

Moustapha Salifou, a Togolese player who plays for Aston Villa in the English Premiership, was said to be "shaken but okay" following the attack – the word shaken means frightened by a shocking event.

As the Togolese players returned to their country for the funerals 葬禮 of those killed in the attack, their captain spoke of their desire to return to Angola to participate in the tournament.

"We have decided to go back to the country for three days of mourning 哀悼," said Adebayor, "after the mourning period, if the Confederation of African Football has reserved our place, we will play."

However, on Monday the Confederation of African Football 非洲足協 turned down 回絕了 the Togolese request to be allowed to come back into the competition.

It seems that many of Togo's football players will be returning to their clubs in Europe sooner than they expected.

But it may well take them some time to get over 恢復 having survived such a traumatic ordeal 痛苦的經歷.

"I told myself, 'This is the end.' We were praying. Those who have children sent them messages while others sent messages to wives and parents. It was very touching 感人的," said Adebayor.

Back in the UK severe weather 嚴寒的天氣 meant only two games were played in the Premier League with both Arsenal and Manchester United only managing draws against Everton and Birmingham City respectively 分別.