CAIRO – Togo’s status as World Cup qualifiers means they are likely to be one of the teams to beat at the African Nations Cup but the tiny west African country need to pass a few milestones first.
Though Togo will be making their sixth Nations Cup appearance in Egypt, they have yet to get past the first round after five early exits stretching back to 1972. This time a much more confident side head to the finals, having endured problems over bonus payments, a strike before their departure to a training camp in Tunisia and the sudden introduction of a host of new players seeking a World Cup place.Coach Stephen Keshi has been the catalyst for the remarkable rise of the Togolese, whose suddenly enhanced credentials will come under stringent examination in Egypt during the tournament, which runs from Jan.20 to Feb.10.The former Nigeria captain is credited with creating a family atmosphere among his players, few of whom have any profile in the international game.Keshi was a Nations Cup winner as a player and also featured in another two finals on the losing side.Aside from the family atmosphere, Togo’s real strength is having Monaco striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who is one of the many players with Nigerian roots in the Togolese side.Adebayor scored 10 goals in the qualifiers, the leading African striker in the World Cup preliminaries, to secure his team’s places at the finals in Egypt and Germany.The tournament will mark the fourth appearance at the finals for Togo’s captain, the 30-year-old Jean Paul Abalo.Togo take on the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening group B match on Jan.21 and have to get past Angola and Cameroon for a first appearance in the last eight.- Nampa-ReutersThis time a much more confident side head to the finals, having endured problems over bonus payments, a strike before their departure to a training camp in Tunisia and the sudden introduction of a host of new players seeking a World Cup place.Coach Stephen Keshi has been the catalyst for the remarkable rise of the Togolese, whose suddenly enhanced credentials will come under stringent examination in Egypt during the tournament, which runs from Jan.20 to Feb.10.The former Nigeria captain is credited with creating a family atmosphere among his players, few of whom have any profile in the international game.Keshi was a Nations Cup winner as a player and also featured in another two finals on the losing side.Aside from the family atmosphere, Togo’s real strength is having Monaco striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who is one of the many players with Nigerian roots in the Togolese side.Adebayor scored 10 goals in the qualifiers, the leading African striker in the World Cup preliminaries, to secure his team’s places at the finals in Egypt and Germany.The tournament will mark the fourth appearance at the finals for Togo’s captain, the 30-year-old Jean Paul Abalo.Togo take on the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening group B match on Jan.21 and have to get past Angola and Cameroon for a first appearance in the last eight.- Nampa-Reuters
