Togo national football team

Togo

Nickname(s)	Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks)
Association	Fédération Togolaise de Football
Sub-confederation	WAFU (West Africa)
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Head coach	Claude Le Roy
Captain	Serge Akakpo
Top scorer	Emmanuel Adebayor (30)[1]
Home stadium	Stade de Kégué
FIFA code	TOG
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	103 (5 May 2016)
Highest	41 (August 2006)
Lowest	125 (September 2014)
Elo ranking
Current	103 (31 March 2015)
Highest	56 (November 2005, January 2006)
Lowest	128 (4 September 1994)
First international
French Togoland 1–1 Gold Coast  and Trans-Volta Togoland (French Togoland; 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
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances	7 (First in 1972)
Best result	Quarter-finals: 2013

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

The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks), is controlled by the Fédération Togolaise de Football. They played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. 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). In 2013 for the first time in history, Togo reached the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.

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. 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 Pfister threatened to refuse to fulfill 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 fulfill the fixture;^[2] 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."^[3]

Togo's final group game against France ended in 2–0 defeat.

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.

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.^[4] Such reports were later dismissed by his club GSI Pontivy in a press announcement, stating the player was actually undergoing surgery in South Africa.^[5]

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),^[6] the government later ordered that the team return home.^[7]

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".^[8][9][10] 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),^[8][11] 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".^[9] FIFA has yet to comment on the issue.^[9] 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".^[9] Togolese captain Emmanuel Adebayor described the decision as "outrageous" and said that CAF President Issa Hayatou had "completely betrayed" the Togo squad.^[12]

As a result of the events, Emmanuel Adebayor announced his retirement from international football on 12 April 2010. But on 22 March 2011 Adebayor announced that he was again available for the national team.

Fake Togo Team

On 7 September 2010, Togo allegedly played Bahrain in a friendly losing the match 3–0. However, on 14 September, the Togo FA claimed that a fake team had played against Bahrain. Togo's Sport Minister Christophe Tchao said to the Jeune Afrique magazine that nobody in Togo had "ever been informed of such a game".^[13] On 20 September 2010, it was revealed that former Togo manager Bana Tchanile was the culprit and the Togo FA have given him a three-year ban in addition to the two-year ban he got in July 2010 for taking Togo players to play a tournament in Egypt.^[14] The match fixing has been linked to Wilson Raj Perumal and the Singaporean match-fixing syndicate allegedly run by Tan Seet Eng.^[15]

2014 World Cup Qualification

Togo began qualification for the 2014 World Cup on November 11, 2011 against Guinea-Bissau. They drew in the first leg 1–1. On November 15, 2011, they won the return leg 1–0. On June 3, 2012, they played Libya in Lome and drew 1–1. Shortly after on June 10, they played Congo DR at Kinshasa and lost 2–0. They resumed on March 3, 2013 and played Cameroon in Yaounde and lost 2–1. They met again on June 9 in Lome and Togo won 2–0. In the end, Togo failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

World Cup record

FIFA World Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1970	Did Not Enter
1974 to 1982	Did Not Qualify
1986 to 1990	Withdrew
1994 to 2002	Did Not Qualify
2006	Group Stage	30th	3	0	0	3	1	6
2010 to 2018	Did Not Qualify
Total	Group Stage	1/20	3	0	0	3	1	6

Africa Cup of Nations record

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 rebel attack
1972	Round 1	1992	Did not qualify	2012	Did not qualify
1974	Withdrew	1994	Withdrew during qualifying	2013	Quarter-Final
1976	Did not qualify	1996	Did not qualify	2015	Did not qualify

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification games against Tunisia on 25 and 29 March 2016.^[16]
Caps and goals updated as of 29 March 2016 after the game against Tunisia.^[17]

0#0	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	GK	Kossi Agassa	2 July 1978	59	0	Reims
	GK	Cédric Mensah	6 March 1989	13	0	Colmar
	DF	Abdoul-Gafar Mamah	24 August 1985	76	0	Dacia Chișinău
	DF	Serge Akakpo	15 October 1987	51	2	Trabzonspor
	DF	Sadat Ouro-Akoriko	1 February 1988	28	1	Al-Faisaly
	DF	Djené Dakonam	31 December 1991	22	0	Alcorcón
	DF	Donou Kokou	24 April 1991	14	1	Enugu Rangers
	DF	Mawouna Amevor	16 December 1991	8	0	Notts County
	DF	Martin Nouwoklo	24 May 1993	8	0	Togo-Port
	DF	Joseph Yaovi Douhadji	5 December 1994	0	0	Rivers United
	MF	Alaixys Romao	18 January 1984	58	0	Marseille
	MF	Dové Womé	8 June 1991	29	6	SuperSport United
	MF	Prince Segbefia	11 March 1991	20	0	Elazığspor
	MF	Lalawélé Atakora	9 November 1990	19	1	Helsingborg
	MF	Mathieu Dossevi	12 February 1988	9	0	Standard Liège
	MF	Farid Zato-Arouna	23 April 1992	3	0	Sigma Olomouc
	MF	Henri Eninful	21 July 1992	2	0	Doxa
	FW	Emmanuel Adebayor	26 February 1984	63	29	Crystal Palace
	FW	Serge Gakpé	7 May 1987	37	4	Atalanta
	FW	Jonathan Ayité	21 July 1985	24	6	Alanyaspor
	FW	Camaldine Abraw	15 August 1990	9	0	Kaizer Chiefs
	FW	Komi-Foovi Aguidi	31 December 1992	2	0	Hearts of Oak
	FW	Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba	27 January 1992	2	0	US Bitam

Recent call-ups

The following players were called up in the last 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Djehani Nguissan	1 February 1990	6	0	Dynamic Togolais	v.  Uganda, 15 November 2015
GK	Nouridine Yacoubou	11 February 1992	1	0	Semassi	v.  Uganda, 15 November 2015
GK	Jean-Robert Klomegah	6 December 1990	0	0	Togo-Port	v.  Liberia, 14 June 2015
DF	Vincent Bossou	7 February 1986	19	0	Young Africans	v.  Uganda, 15 November 2015
DF	Kodjo Dadzié	14 May 1986	4	0	Gomido	v.  Uganda, 15 November 2015
DF	Alban Sabah	22 June 1992	1	0	Waldhof Mannheim	v.  Liberia, 14 June 2015
MF	Floyd Ayité	15 December 1988	26	4	Bastia	v.  Tunisia, 25 March 2016 ^INJ
MF	Sapol Mani	5 June 1991	14	3	Dacia Chișinău	v.  Djibouti, 4 September 2015
MF	Komlan Amewou	15 December 1983	63	4	Sur	v.  Liberia, 14 June 2015
MF	Aboubacar Rachidou	14 December 1992	1	0	Anges	v.  Liberia, 14 June 2015
FW	Peniel Mlapa	20 February 1991	0	0	VfL Bochum	v.  Tunisia, 25 March 2016 ^INJ
FW	Euloge Placca Fessou	1 December 1994	8	0	Oosterzonen	v.  Uganda, 15 November 2015
FW	Franck Mawuena	21 November 1992	1	0	Free agent	v.  Uganda, 15 November 2015
FW	Backer Aloenouvo	4 July 1990	13	4	Al-Karkh	v.  Liberia, 14 June 2015

Notes

^INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.

Coaches

• Eberhard Vogel (1997–98)
• Bana Tchanile (2000–02)
• Diego Garzitto (2002)
• Antônio Dumas (2002–04)
• Stephen Keshi (2004–06)
• Otto Pfister (2006)
• Stephen Keshi (2006–08)
• Henri Stambouli (2008)
• Kodjovi Mawuéna (2008–09)
• Jean Thissen (2009)
• Hubert Velud (2009–10)
• Thierry Froger (2010–11)
• Stephen Keshi (2011)
• Didier Six (2011, interim)
• Didier Six (2012–14)
• Tchakala Tchanilé (2014–15)
• Tom Saintfiet (2015–16)
• Claude Le Roy (2016–)

References

1. Mamrud, Roberto; Stokkermans, Karel. "Players with 100+ Caps and 30+ International Goals". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
2. "Sky Sports | Football News". Home.skysports.com. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
3. http://web.archive.org/web/20071001150738/http://www.fifa.com/en/media/index/0,1369,120470,00.html?articleid=120470. Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. Retrieved August 30, 2006. Missing or empty |title= (help)
4. Reuters (2010-01-09). "African Cup of Nations — NoConfusion over Togo death toll". Retrieved 2010-02-01.
5. "Kodjovi Obilalé n'est pas décédé des suites de ses blessures (Agence AFP)" (in French). Retrieved 2010-02-01.
6. Nick Reeves (2010-01-10). "Togo in dramatic African Nations Cup u-turn". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
7. "Togo officially disqualified from Africa Cup of Nations". BBC Sport (BBC). 2010-01-11. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
8. Togo's withdrawal, Confederation of African Football, 30 January 2010
9. "Togo banned from next two Africa Cups of Nations". BBC Sport (BBC). 30 January 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
10. "Togo suspended for next two Africa Nations Cup". Xinhua. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
11. Regulations of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations (PDF), Confederation of African Football
12. Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor slams 'outrageous' ban, BBC Sport, 31 January 2010
13. 'Fake' Togo football team at Bahrain match being investigated, BBC News, 15 September 2010
14. Fake mastermind behind fake Togo team revealed!, Yahoo, 20 September 2010
15. Buncombe, Andrew (29 March 2013). "Dan Tan: the man who fixed football". The Independent. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
16. "Tom Saintfiet convoque 25 joueurs" (in French). ftftogo.com.
17. "Togo".

External links

• Togo FA official site