Egypt won the African Cup of Nations last night when they beat Ghana 1-0 but the incredible decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to ban Togo from the competition for six-years has taken the tarnish of the tournament.

The reason that CAF banned the Togo national side (and to add insult to injury fined them $50,000) was that the decision to of the Togolese team to quit the tournament was taken by their government instead of the players.

So, apparently, this breaches the strict regulations that the federation have about political inteference in sport.

I can see circumstances in which this ruling might be useful, for example when dictators interfere in their footballing sides, but surely this wasn’t a circumstance when this rule should have been applied. Surely the government of Togo had a right to recall their team so they could take part in national mourning for the dead.

It’s disgusting, The Togolese government understandably withdrew the team after three people in the tournament party were killed, although apparently the players wanted to play on. Football isn’t more important than life or death.

Togo are appealing against the decision,and surely in this case the CAF should show a bit of commonsense and bend their strict rules a bit.

Togo were the victims of an unprovoked terror attack, and surely it was the responsibility of the CAF and the hosts Angola to protect them. Instead they are getting punished when there should be a massive inquiry into how the attack happened.

Footballers shouldn’t have to go into a tournament wondering whether they are going to live or die.

Its a terrible decision against all principles of humanity and empathy, and one which will make football supporters all over the world, not just Africa angry.