Togo national football team

Togo

Nickname(s)	Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks)
Association	Fédération Togolaise de Football
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Head coach	Thierry Froger
Captain	Emmanuel Adebayor
Most caps	Mohamed Kader (85)
Top scorer	Mohamed Kader (54)
Home stadium	Stade de Kégué
FIFA code	TOG
FIFA ranking	75
Highest FIFA ranking	46 (August 2006)
Lowest FIFA ranking	123 (April 1994)
Elo ranking	105
Home colours Away colours
First international
French Togoland 1–1 Gold Coast (Togo; 13 October 1956)
Biggest win
Togo 6–0 Swaziland  (Accra, Ghana; 11 November 2008)
Biggest defeat
Morocco 7–0 Togo (Morocco; 28 October 1979) Tunisia 7–0 Togo (Tunis, Tunisia; 7 January 2000)
World Cup
Appearances	1 (First in 2006)
Best result	Round 1, 2006
African Nations Cup
Appearances	6 (First in 1972)
Best result	Round 1, all

Members of the Togolese national football team before a warm-up match in Biberach/Riss a few days before the 2006 World Cup

The national football team of Togo, nicknamed Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks), is controlled by the "Fédération Togolaise de Football".

They played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup but gained no points. Their team bus underwent a fatal attack in Angola prior to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. They withdrew and were subsequently banned from the following two tournaments by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

History

They made their first FIFA World Cup appearance in their history in 2006, having been coached throughout the qualifying campaign by Stephen Keshi; German coach Otto Pfister managed the team at the finals, despite having resigned three days before their first match over a players' bonuses dispute, only to be persuaded by the players to return. Although Togo have qualified for the World Cup, they have never advanced past the first stage of the African Nations Cup. Prior to gaining independence in 1960, the team were known as French Togoland.

2006 World Cup

Togo lost their opening game of the World Cup, despite having taken the lead against South Korea through a goal by Mohamed Kader. In the second half, Jean-Paul Abalo was sent off after 55 minutes, and goals from Lee Chun-Soo and Ahn Jung-Hwan sealed a 2–1 defeat for Togo.

Togo's next opponents in Group G were Switzerland, with the match scheduled for the afternoon of 19 June. However, the Togo squad and manager Pfitser threatened to refuse to fulfil the fixture and take strike action. The squad and manager had been quoted as requesting payments from the Fédération Togolaise de Football for participating in the tournament of around €155,000 (US$192,000) with added bonuses for victories or draws. FIFA negotiated with the squad and manager on 17 June, persuading them to travel to Dortmund in time to fulfil the fixture;^[1] goals from Alexander Frei and Tranquillo Barnetta resulted in a 2–0 defeat. FIFA subsequently imposed a CHF100,000 fine on the Togolese federation for "behaviour unworthy of a participant in the World Cup."^[2]

Togo's final group game against France ended in 2–0 defeat. Togo left the tournament with no points gained.

Sierra Leone air disaster

After a 2008 African Nations Cup qualifier away to Sierra Leone on 3 June 2007, 20 members of a delegation of sports officials from Togo, including Togolese Sports Minister Richard Attipoe, were killed when their helicopter exploded and crashed at Lungi International Airport. No players of the Togo national team were among the victims. The Togo players and officials of the team had been waiting to take the next helicopter flight to the island on which the airport is located.

January 2010 bus ambush and ban

On 8 January 2010, the Togo team bus was attacked by gunmen as it travelled to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, killing three and injuring several others. The separatist group Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) claimed responsibility for the attack. Goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale was reported dead a day after the attack.^[3] Such reports were later dismissed by his club GSI Pontivy in a press announcement, stating the player was actually undergoing surgery in South Africa.^[4]

Following the bus ambush attack, the Fédération Togolaise de Football stated that they would withdraw from the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations; despite claims that the team had since reversed the decision and would compete "to show our national colours, our values and that we are men" (as announced by Thomas Dossevi),^[5] the government later ordered that the team return home.^[6]

Following the team's withdrawal, The Confederation of African Football (CAF) banned Togo from participating in the next two editions of the Cup of Nations and fined them $50,000 because of the "decision taken by the political authorities".^[7][8][9] The CAF executive Committee considered that the Togolese team was in "forfeit notified less than twenty days before the start or during the final competition" (Art. 78 of the Regulations for the Africa Cup of Nations),^[7][10] rather than having withdrawn (Art. 80), and refused to consider the circumstances as force majeure (Art. 87). Togo's government immediately said they would sue as CAF "have no consideration for the lives of other human beings" and this is further "insulting to the family of those who lost their lives and those traumatized because of the attack".^[8] FIFA has yet to comment on the issue.^[8] Togo footballer Thomas Dossevi said "We are a group of footballers who came under fire and now we can't play football any more. They are crushing us".^[8] Togolese captain Emmanuel Adebayor described the decision as "outrageous" and said that CAF President Issa Hayatou had "completely betrayed" the Togo squad.^[11]

As a result of the events, Emmanuel Adebayor announced his retirement from international football on 12 April, 2010.

World Cup record

World Cup
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
1930 to 1970	Did not enter	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1974 to 1982	Did not qualify	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1986 to 1990	Did not enter	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1994 to 2002	Did not qualify	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2006	Round 1	30	3	0	0	3	1	6
2010	Did not qualify	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Total	1/19		3	0	0	3	1	6

African Nations Cup record

Africa Cup of Nations
Year	Position	Year	Position	Year	Position
1957	Did not enter	1978	Did not qualify	1998	Round 1
1959	Did not enter	1980	Did not qualify	2000	Round 1
1962	Did not enter	1982	Did not qualify	2002	Round 1
1963	Did not enter	1984	Round 1	2004	Did not qualify
1965	Did not enter	1986	Did not qualify	2006	Round 1
1968	Did not qualify	1988	Did not qualify	2008	Did not qualify
1970	Did not qualify	1990	Withdrew	2010	Withdrew due to terrorist attack
1972	Round 1	1992	Did not qualify
1974	Withdrew	1994	Withdrew during qualifying
1976	Did not qualify	1996	Did not qualify

World Cup 2006

• v South Korea in Frankfurt, loss, 2–1
• v Switzerland in Dortmund, loss, 2–0
• v France in Cologne, loss, 2–0

Current squad

The following players were called for a friendly match against Saudi Arabia.[2] Caps and goals as of the match against Malawi.

0#0 Pos. Player Date of Birth (Age) Caps Goals Club GK Baba Tchagouni 31 December 1989 (1989-12-31) (age 21) 2 0 Dijon GK Safiou Salifou 0 0 Dyto DF Daré Nibombé 16 June 1980 (1980-06-16) (age 30) 54 2 Baku DF Abdoul Mamah 24 August 1985 (1985-08-24) (age 25) 38 0 Alania Vladikavkaz DF Serge Akakpo (captain) 15 August 1987 (1987-08-15) (age 23) 12 0 Châteauroux (trial) DF Senah Mango 1 January 1991 (1991-01-01) (age 20) 6 1 Marseille DF Ousseni Labo 11 June 1982 (1982-06-11) (age 28) 5 0 Meppen (trial) DF Sadat Ouro-Akoriko 1 February 1988 (1988-02-01) (age 23) 0 0 Étoile Filante DF Vincent Bossou 7 February 1986 (1986-02-07) (age 25) 2 0 Maranatha MF Yao Junior Sènaya 19 April 1984 (1984-04-19) (age 26) 35 3 (free agent) MF Euloge Ahodikpé 1 May 1983 (1983-05-01) (age 27) 8 0 (free agent) MF Floyd Ayité 15 November 1988 (1988-11-15) (age 22) 7 1 Bordeaux MF Zakari Morou 0 0 Liberty Professionals MF Kossi-Prince Segbefia March 11, 1991 (1991-03-11) (age 19) 0 0 Al Ain MF Atakora Lalawelé 11 September 1990 (1990-09-11) (age 20) 0 0 Fredrikstad FW Serge Gakpé 7 May 1987 (1987-05-07) (age 23) 4 0 AS Monaco FW Camaldine Abraw 15 August 1990 (1990-08-15) (age 20) 3 0 Châteauroux FW Backer Aloenouvo 4 July 1990 (1990-07-04) (age 20) 2 2 Marsa FW Razak Boukari 25 April 1987 (1987-04-25) (age 23) 0 0 Lens FW Komi-Fovi Aguidi 31 December 1991 (1991-12-31) (age 19) Académie Liberty Delta

Recent call ups

0#0 Pos. Player Date of Birth (Age) Caps Goals Club GK Kossi Agassa 2 July 1978 (1978-07-02) (age 32) 53 0 Reims GK Dodo Obilalé 8 August 1984 (1984-08-08) (age 26) 16 0 GSI Pontivy GK Cédric Mensah 28 June 1987 (1987-06-28) (age 23) 10 0 (free agent) GK Mawugbe Atsou 20 August 1986 (1986-08-20) (age 24) 1 0 Maranatha DF Eric Akoto 10 July 1980 (1980-07-10) (age 30) 33 0 North Queensland Fury DF Richmond Forson 23 May 1980 (1980-05-23) (age 30) 18 0 Chauvigny DF Assimiou Touré 1 January 1988 (1988-01-01) (age 23) 13 0 Arminia DF Kwami Eninful 20 November 1984 (1984-11-20) (age 26) 12 0 US Monastir DF Akimsola Boussari 10 March 1988 (1988-03-10) (age 22) 3 0 Enugu Rangers DF Emmanuel Mathias 3 April 1986 (1986-04-03) (age 24) 6 1 Hapoel Petah Tikva DF Yaovi Aziabou 1 September 1990 (1990-09-01) (age 20) 1 0 Tarbes DF Djen Dakoma Étoile Filante MF Komlan Amewou 15 November 1983 (1983-11-15) (age 27) 30 1 Nîmes MF Guillaume Brenner 1 June 1986 (1986-06-01) (age 24) 7 0 Alki Larnaca MF Moustapha Salifou 1 June 1983 (1983-06-01) (age 27) 47 6 Aston Villa MF Malick Korodowou 15 December 1990 (1990-12-15) (age 20) 1 0 Wiltz MF Koupossitéré Camara 15 December 1986 (1986-12-15) (age 24) ASKO Kara MF Hamílton 26 June 1980 (1980-06-26) (age 30) 1 0 Boca Júnior-SE MF Sapol Mani 5 June 1991 (1991-06-05) (age 19) 6 2 Alittihad MF Alaixys Romao 18 January 1984 (1984-01-18) (age 27) 30 0 Lorient MF Dové Wome 14 June 1991 (1991-06-14) (age 19) 2 1 Académie Liberty Delta FW Jonathan Ayité 21 July 1985 (1985-07-21) (age 25) 7 0 Nîmes Olympique FW Arafat Djako 30 June 1991 (1991-06-30) (age 19) 2 0 (free agent) FW Thomas Dossevi 6 March 1979 (1979-03-06) (age 31) 26 1 Swindon Town FW Safiou Saibou 31 December 1991 (1991-12-31) (age 19) Alittihad FW Abdou-Fatawou Dodja 24 December 1991 (1991-12-24) (age 19) Académie Liberty Delta FW Moukaila Goga 4 May 1987 (1987-05-04) (age 23) 1 0 Louhans-Cuiseaux FW Mohamed Kader 8 April 1979 (1979-04-08) (age 31) 85 54 Ajman FW Liyabé Kpatoumbi 25 May 1986 (1986-05-25) (age 24) 2 0 ASKO Kara

Togo managers

• 1997–98 Eberhard Vogel
• 2002–04 Antônio Dumas
• 2004–06 Stephen Keshi
• 2006 Otto Pfister
• 2006–08 Stephen Keshi
• 2008 Henri Stambouli
• 2008–09 Kodjovi Mawuéna
• 2009 Jean Thissen
• 2009–10 Hubert Velud
• 2010– Thierry Froger

References

External links

• Togo FA official site
• Picture of team. Name of one player missing.

Togo squad – 2006 Africa Cup of Nations 1 Tchagnirou • 2 Nibombé • 3 Abalo • 4 Adebayor • 5 Tchangai • 6 Aziawonou • 7 Salifou • 8 Gaffar • 9 Dogbé • 10 Cherif Touré • 11 Coubageat • 12 Akoto • 13 Mathias • 14 Olufadé • 15 Romao • 16 Agassa • 17 Kader • 18 Sènaya • 19 Alidu • 20 Assemoassa • 21 Atte-Oudeyi • 22 Obilalé • 23 Guyazou • Coach: Keshi

Togo squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 Tchagnirou • 2 Nibombé • 3 Abalo (c) • 4 Adebayor • 5 Tchangai • 6 Aziawonou • 7 Salifou • 8 Agboh • 9 Dossevi • 10 Cherif Touré • 11 Malm • 12 Akoto • 13 Forson • 14 Olufadé • 15 Romao • 16 Agassa • 17 Kader • 18 Sènaya • 19 Assemoassa • 20 Erassa • 21 Atsou • 22 Obilalé • 23 A. Touré • Coach: Pfister

Togo squad – 2010 Africa Cup of Nations (withdrawn) 1 Obilalé • 2 Bossou • 3 Eninful • 4 Adebayor • 5 Akakpo • 6 Mamah • 7 Salifou • 8 Améwou • 9 Dossevi • 10 F. Ayité • 11 J. Ayité • 12 Akoto • 13 Forson • 14 Boussari • 15 Romao • 16 Agassa • 17 Gakpé • 18 Sènaya • 19 Mani • 20 Brenner • 21 Kpatoumbi • 22 Tchagouni • 23 Touré • Coach: Velud

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