Caf to discuss Mali attacks

Hayatou is the head of Caf

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) is to discuss attacks on Mali players that followed the 2-0 away win over Togo in their decisive African Nations Cup qualifier in Lome on Friday.
Caf said on Monday it would look into the reports of violent attacks on players and supporters after the Group Nine match, which saw Mali win a place at next January's Nations Cup finals at the expense of their Togolese hosts.

Caf, headed by Cameroonian Issa Hayatou, have placed the match officials's reports on the agenda of its organising committee meeting scheduled for Accra, Ghana on Thursday.

Spanish-based striker Frederic Kanoute and Stoke City's Mamady Sidibe were both attacked at the end of the game and suffered injuries, according to Mali officials.

Sidibe was cut on the arm after an attack by a spectator while Kanoute was kicked in the legs.

Mali coach Jean Francois Jodar told the French newspaper L'Equipe at the weekend: "It was like a battle field.

"The players had to seek safety in the change room and there was blood everywhere."

Mali Football federation president Salif Keita added 15 supporters were injured after being attacked at the end of the match.

Togo reports said several were hospitalised in Lome.

The incident mirrored similar scenes in the Malian capital Bamako two years ago, when Togo won 2-1 away in a 2006 World Cup qualifier.

The match between the two countries then had to be abandoned and rioting spread into the city, where shops and cars were burnt and some 30 people arrested.

Mali were later banned from using the stadium.