Crystal Palace striker Emmanuel Adebayor has turned down a call-up to the Togo national side as he wants to focus on playing club football, reports Super Sport.
The 32-year-old joined the Selhurst Park outfit in January on a free transfer after being released by Tottenham Hotspur in September and has gone on to score once in six appearances for the Eagles. He was a regular in the Spurs side until the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino in the summer of 2014, where he fell out of favour making just 17 outings last season in all competitions, scoring twice.
The former Arsenal striker has had a stormy relationship with Togo coach Tom Saintfiet as well as having a chequered history with the national team, which included failing to turn up for an African Nations Cup qualifier against Djibouti in September.
Adebayor, who last played for his country in June 2015, took to social media to reject the call-up by Togo as he wrote on his Facebook page: “I thank you for having me selected for the matches against Tunisia, however, I don’t think this is the opportune moment.”
“I just signed for a new team in London and I’m doing everything I can to be at 100 percent physically and mentally. I’m practicing very hard with Crystal Palace… (and) I do not wish to interrupt this training.”
Togo have started well in the African Nations Cup qualifiers as they lead Group A with two wins from two matches putting themselves ahead of the likes of Liberia, Tunsia and Djibouti. They face Tunisia on March 25 as they look to keep the momentum going with the group winners gaining automatic qualification to the finals in Gabon next year.
A last-gasp defeat to Liverpool on Sunday leaves Palace 15th in the Premier League table, nine points away from the relegation places. Alan Pardew’s side are in cup action this weekend as they travel to face Championship side Reading on Friday night in the FA Cup.
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