"Before the match, I received threats to my life warning me to play the match or else," he told BBC after the game

Adebayor, who was considering boycotting the game along with some of his teammates, scored a brace in the 3-1 victory that put Togo atop their Group I with six points.

"Thank God I scored two goals in this qualifying match against Sierra Leone; I do not know what would have happened to me if I had not scored those goals."

The Togolese skipper's threat to boycott the game came after a row with the local football federation over unpaid player bonuses.

"I am only trying to put certain things right and correct a few mistakes in Togolese football but it appears some people do not like it," said Adebayor

The 25-year-old, who revealed that he was convinced to play the match by coach Stephen Keshi, said that these threats have put a question mark on his future with the national team.

"I am going to go back to Arsenal to think about my future," he said. "I have to protect my life and I have a family to look after."