Togo’s euphoria at qualifying for their first World Cup was tempered by a dismal performance at the African Nations Cup which indicates they will struggle in Germany.
The Togolese accounted for 2002 World Cup quarterfinalists Senegal in a huge upset but were brought down to earth with a resounding bump after failing to win a point in Egypt earlier this year.
Worse still, Togo finished the tournament in disarray after a bitter row between Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi and Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor, the star of the Sparrowhawks’ qualifying campaign.
Togo’s poor performance in Egypt led to the dismissal of Keshi, who only months earlier had been feted as a hero by the government in Lomé.
The Togolese authorities replaced Keshi with journeyman Otto Pfister, but whether the 67-year-old German can unite the squad in time for the World Cup remains to be seen.
Adebayor’s spat with Keshi angered several members of the team, and skipper Jean-Paul Abalo angrily hit out at the former Monaco striker. ”He didn’t just betray his team, he betrayed the Togolese people,” Abalo said.
Pfister will hardly have been encouraged by the fact that a delegation of senior players have also demanded Keshi’s reinstatement, though the Togo FA are standing by their decision for now.
The rancour in the Togolese camp is all a far cry from the joyous aftermath of the qualifying competition, when they stunned more illustrious rivals Senegal, Zambia and Mali.
They won seven games, drew two and lost just one. Adebayor scored half of the 22 goals and Pfister will be praying the tall striker can settle his differences and rediscover his scoring touch in Germany.
A number of Togo’s players are based in Europe, playing in the French, Belgian, Austrian or English leagues though often in the lower divisions. Other squad members have never left Africa.
Under these conditions a likely fourth place spot in Group G comprising France, Switzerland and South Korea looks the likely outcome. – Sapa-AFP