 Adebayor says he has permission from Arsenal to play for Togo
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Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has said he is happy for Emmanuel Adebayor to play for Togo in a World Cup qualifier against Cameroon on Saturday.
Media reports had suggested Wenger would be unhappy about the striker playing for Togo because of concerns over a hamstring injury.
Wenger says he was in communication with Togo coach Jean Thissen.
“Adebayor has gone away with Togo. Will he play or not? He will have tests. For us, he was ready to play,” he said.
“Ideally it is good for us and for him to have a game.
“There is no problem, I had a meeting with their manager and we knew he would be ready for this, weekend, whether it was for us or for Togo,” Wenger told the Arsenal website.
And the the African Footballer of the Year insists he is now fit for Saturday’s game.
“I am surprised that this issue has taken this dimension in the media in England because it is not an issue at all,” Adebayor told BBC Sport.
“My boss Arsene Wenger gave me the permission to come here to play for my country and if I didn’t have his blessing I wouldn’t be here.
“I will play for my country on Saturday and I am certain that I will not be in trouble when I return to England.”
Adebayor has not played for Arsenal since suffering the injury during the goalless north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on 8 February.
The striker is keen to put aside the controversy in England to help him concentrate on Togo’s clash with Cameroon, who are the highest African team in the Fifa rankings.
And Adebayor feels Togo’s team spirit will help them triumph over the star-studded Indomitable Lions.
“Cameroon are among the strongest teams in Africa and we respect them and the top players in their squad,” Adebayor added.
“But the Togo national team is not about individuals – the massive team spirit is what will make the difference for us.
“This game will be tough but our fighting spirit will help us win. What happens on the pitch will decide.”
Togo will also face Morocco and Gabon in Group A of the qualifiers.
