Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor is fuming after being accused of a lack of discipline for not joining up with the Togo squad ahead of today's friendly against Ghana - even though he is on compassionate leave from Spurs following his disturbing claims he considered suicide.
Tottenham allowed the 31-year-old to go back to Africa prior to the club’s final game of the season against Everton.
He was left out of the north Londoners’ post-season trips to Malaysia and Sydney.
But new Togo coach Tom Saintfiet still called up the country’s captain for their game against Liberia in Lome next Sunday.
Saintfiet hit out: “He is among the important players for the team but I cannot work with them when they are not in the squad. They should have the same discipline as others.”
A source close to Adebayor said last night: “There is a lot happening in his life right now. Nobody can question his commitment to his country.”
But Saintfiet added: “To me, discipline is very important in life. And that’s what I am already trying to impregnate in the team.
“Discipline is important both for the players, the staff, etc. Discipline is everything to me. All players must be proud to be selected and accept the rules.
“I want each player to know it’s special to be selected for his country.”
Two other key Togo players, keeper Kossi Agassa from French club Reims, and midfielder Floyd Ayité from French side, Bastia, also failed to turned up for preparations, Saintfiet claimed.