ACCRA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Ghana's government has on Sunday condemned what it termed the unjustified and unfortunate machine gun attack on the Togolese national football team in Angola on Friday.

    "That cowardly and barbaric act is intended not only to dampen the spirit of participating countries, but to also destroy the enthusiasm of the continent in celebrating African football," a government statement from the Ministry of Information said.

    The statement said Ghana extends its condolence to the families of persons who lost their lives in the attack, adding "it is also our prayer that those who were injured in the attack recover very soon."

    The Ghanian government also urged the Angolan authorities to launch a full-scale inquiry into the deliberate act of sabotage and bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to book.

    Ghana, the statement said, is also concerned about the safety and security of the Senior National team, the Black Stars, and has requested the Angolan government to roll out all the necessary security measures needed to ensure the protection of all participating countries in the 2010 African Cup of Nations tournament. The Black Stars, will meanwhile, participate fully in the tournament.