Togo press officer died in my arms says Adebayor

Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor says he needs an extended break from football after revealing that one of the victims of the Togo bus attack died in his arms.

Adebayor is still in his home country of Togo where three days of mourning are taking place following the team's evacuation from the African Cup of Nations in Angola. Three people died when gunmen opened fire on the team's bus in the enclave of Cabinda.

The striker, who is on compassionate leave from his club, says he is still some way from a return to football. He revealed that he has been unable to eat and has lost weight since the attack.

"It is very difficult because our press officer, who was my personal press officer, died in my hands," said Adebayor. "Until now that is the worst image I have had in my life."

The other victims of the attack were Togo's assistant manager and the bus driver. Several players were also injured and  goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale, who was shot twice, is in intensive care in a South African hospital.

"At the moment my head is not on football because you are talking about human beings' lives, I will take my time and come back on the pitch at the right time," said Adebayor. "My boss [Roberto Mancini] and my team understand that; that is the most important thing. They know I need time to recover from this."

Mancini has made it clear that Adebayor will not be pressurised into making a return. "He has lived through a terrible tragedy," said the City boss. "What counts more than anything is the man and he is extremely distressed."

Adebayor, who moved from Arsenal to Manchester City in acrimonious circumstances during the summer, spoke to the press while wearing an Arsenal shirt earlier in the week. But in his latest round of interviews he explained that he had left his luggage on the bus and had borrowed the top from his brother. "I did not realise what I was wearing," he said. ·