Togo national football team

Togo
Nickname(s)	Les Éperviers ; (The Sparrowhawks)
Association	Togolese Football Federation
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	WAFU (West Africa)
Head coach	Paulo Duarte
Captain	Djené Dakonam
Most caps	Emmanuel Adebayor (87)
Top scorer	Emmanuel Adebayor (32)
Home stadium	Stade de Kégué
FIFA code	TOG
First colours	Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	136 5 (16 September 2021)
Highest	46 (August 2006)
Lowest	133 (April 2021)
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) ; Togo 6–0 Mauritius ; (Lomé, Mauritius; 12 November 2017)
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	Group stage, 2006
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances	8 (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 (French: Équipe nationale de football du Togo) represents Togo in international football and is controlled by the Togolese Football Federation. The national football team of Togo made their debut in the FIFA World Cup in 2006. 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. The team represents both FIFA and 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. 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 Togolese Football Federation 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;^[3] 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."^[4]

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.^[5] Such reports were later dismissed by his club GSI Pontivy in a press announcement, stating the player was actually undergoing surgery in South Africa.^[6]

Following the bus ambush attack, the Togolese Football Federation 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),^[7] the government later ordered that the team return home.^[8]

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".^[9]^[10]^[11] 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),^[9]^[12] 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".^[10] FIFA has yet to comment on the issue.^[10] 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".^[10] Togolese captain Emmanuel Adebayor described the decision as "outrageous" and said that CAF President Issa Hayatou had "completely betrayed" the Togo squad.^[13]

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".^[14] On 20 September 2010, it was revealed that former Togo manager Bana Tchanilé 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.^[15] The match fixing has been linked to Wilson Raj Perumal and the Singaporean match-fixing syndicate allegedly run by Tan Seet Eng.^[16]

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.

Results and fixtures[]

Win Draw Loss

2019[]

14 November 2019 (2019-11-14) 2021 AFCONQ	Togo	0–1	Comoros	showLomé, Togo
16:00 UTC±0			Selemani 51'	Stadium: Stade de Kégué

18 November 2019 (2019-11-18) 2021 AFCONQ	Kenya	1–1	Togo	showKasarani, Kenya
19:00 UTC+3	Omolo 35'		Ouro-Sama 64'	Stadium: Moi International Sports Centre

2021[]

5 June 2021 Friendly	Togo	2–0	Guinea	showManavgat, Turkey
16:00 UTC±0	Laba 9' (pen.), 88'	Report		Stadium: Arslan Zeki Demirci Sports Complex Referee: Yaşar Kemal Uğurlu (Turkey)

8 June 2021 Friendly	Gambia	1–0	Togo	showManavgat, Turkey
17:00 UTC+3	Gomez 74'	Report		Stadium: Arslan Zeki Demirci Sports Complex

Players[]

Current squad[]

The following players were called up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches.^[17]
Match dates: 1 and 5 September 2021
Opposition: Senegal and Namibia
Caps and goals correct as of: 29 March 2021, after the match against Kenya.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1GK	Abdoul Moubarak Aigba	(1997-08-05) 5 August 1997 (age 24)	7	0	AS Douanes
1GK	Malcolm Barcola	(1999-05-14) 14 May 1999 (age 22)	8	0	Lyon
1GK			0	0	AS Douanes

2DF	Abdoul-Halimou Sama	(2002-07-28) 28 July 2002 (age 19)	2	0	ASKO Kara
2DF	Adewale Olufade	(1994-08-21) 21 August 1994 (age 27)	8	0	Manama
2DF	Djené Dakonam	(1991-12-31) 31 December 1991 (age 29)	58	2	Getafe
2DF		(1995-12-20) 20 December 1995 (age 25)	0	0	Granville
2DF	Kangnivi Ama Tchoutchoui	(1994-05-28) 28 May 1994 (age 27)	7	0	Nouadhibou
2DF	Klousseh Agbozo	(1994-06-26) 26 June 1994 (age 27)	6	0	Olympique Béja
2DF	Bilal Moussa	(1996-11-29) 29 November 1996 (age 24)	5	0	Togo-Port
2DF	Youssifou Atté	(1996-05-16) 16 May 1996 (age 25)	1	0	WAFA
2DF	Frederic Ananou	(1997-09-20) 20 September 1997 (age 23)	0	0	Paderbon

3MF	Bilal Akoro	(1999-12-14) 14 December 1999 (age 21)	6	1
3MF	Floyd Ayité	(1988-12-15) 15 December 1988 (age 32)	46	11	Gençlerbirliği
3MF	Kossivi Amédédjisso	(2001-12-31) 31 December 2001 (age 19)	1	0	RB Leipzig
3MF	Henri Eninful	(1992-07-21) 21 July 1992 (age 29)	11	1	Lahti
3MF	Mani Ougadja	(1988-01-31) 31 January 1988 (age 33)	1	0	Kara
3MF	Marouf Tchakei	(1995-12-15) 15 December 1995 (age 25)	13	2	ASKO Kara

4FW	David Henen	(1996-04-19) 19 April 1996 (age 25)	3	0	Grenoble
4FW	Gilles Sunu	(1991-03-30) 30 March 1991 (age 30)	12	2	Châteauroux
4FW	Ihlas Bebou	(1994-04-23) 23 April 1994 (age 27)	26	1	Hoffenheim
4FW	Kévin Denkey	(2000-11-30) 30 November 2000 (age 20)	14	1	Cercle Brugge
4FW	Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba	(1992-01-27) 27 January 1992 (age 29)	32	12	Al Ain
4FW	Euloge Placca Fessou	(1994-12-31) 31 December 1994 (age 26)	15	2	Lierse Kempenzonen
4FW	Richard Nane	(1994-06-23) 23 June 1994 (age 27)	9	4	ASC Kara
4FW	Serge Nyuiadzi	(1991-09-17) 17 September 1991 (age 29)	0	0	Sūduva

Recent call-ups[]

The following players have been called up for Togo in the last 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK		(1990-02-01) 1 February 1990 (age 31)	8	0	Hayabley/CNSS	vs. Gambia, 8 June 2021

DF	Dové Womé	(1991-06-08) 8 June 1991 (age 30)	37	7	Al-Yarmouk	vs. Gambia, 8 June 2021
DF	Loïc Bessilé	(1999-02-19) 19 February 1999 (age 22)	2	0	Bordeaux	vs. Gambia, 8 June 2021

MF		(1994-05-05) 5 May 1994 (age 27)	0	0	Hafia	vs. Gambia, 8 June 2021
MF	Elom Nya-Vedji	(1997-11-24) 24 November 1997 (age 23)	5	2	Vllaznia Shkodër	vs. Gambia, 8 June 2021

FW	Ismaïl Ouro-Agoro	(1996-02-20) 20 February 1996 (age 25)	6	0	ASC Kara	vs. Gambia, 8 June 2021

^DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up.
^INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
^PRE Preliminary squad.
^RET Player has retired from international football.
^SUS Suspended from the national team.

Records[]

As of 8 June 2021

Players in bold text are still active with Togo.

Most appearances
Rank	Player	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Emmanuel Adebayor	87	32	2000–2019
2	Abdoul-Gafar Mamah	86	0	2000–2016
3	Mohamed Kader	85	24	1996–2009
4	Jean-Paul Abalo	75	1	1992–2008
5	Kossi Agassa	72	0	1998–2017
6	Alaixys Romao	69	0	2005–2019
6	Moustapha Salifou	69	9	2000–2013
8	Komlan Améwou	65	5	2000–2015
9	Serge Akakpo	61	2	2008–2017
10	Djené Dakonam	60	0	2012-present

Top goalscorers
Rank	Player	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Emmanuel Adebayor	32	87	0.37	2000–2019
2	Mohamed Kader	24	85	0.28	1996–2009
3	Adékambi Olufadé	19	45	0.42	1997–2010
4	Bachirou Salou	17	39	0.44	1989–1998
5	Kossi Noutsoudje	13	35	0.37	1996–2002
6	Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba	12	32	0.38	2016–present
7	Floyd Ayité	11	46	0.24	2007–present
8	Djima Oyawole	10	27	0.37	1996–2006
8	Mohamed Kader	10	51	0.2	1995–2009
10	Moustapha Salifou	9	69	0.13	2000–2013

Coaches[]

Boško Antić (1987–89)
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 (2016–2021)
Jonas Komla (2021, interim)
Paulo Duarte (2021–)

Competition records[]

FIFA World Cup[]

FIFA World Cup record										FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930	Did not enter									Declined participation
1934
1938
1950
1954
1958
1962
1966
1970
1974	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	0	4
1978										4	1	1	2	3	5
1982										2	1	0	1	2	2
1986	Withdrew									Withdrew
1990	Withdrew									Withdrew
1994	Did not qualify									5	0	0	5	2	11
1998										8	2	2	4	9	16
2002										10	3	4	3	13	13
2006	Group stage	30th	3	0	0	3	1	6	Squad	12	8	2	2	22	9
2010	Did not qualify									10	4	2	4	11	10
2014										8	2	2	4	6	12
2018										2	0	0	2	0	4
2022	To be determined									To be determined
2026	To be determined									To be determined
Total	Group stage	1/21	3	0	0	3	1	6	—	63	21	13	29	68	86

Agassa

Abalo (c)

Nibombé

Tchangai

Amevou

Romao

Sènaya

Salifou

Kader

Adebayor

Touré

2006 FIFA World Cup starting lineup

Africa Cup of Nations[]

Africa Cup of Nations record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad
1957	Part of France
1959	Part of France
1962	Not affiliated to CAF
1963	Not affiliated to CAF
1965	Did not enter
1968	Did not qualify
1970	Did not qualify
1972	Group stage	7th	3	0	2	1	4	6	Squad
1974	Withdrew
1976	Did not qualify
1978
1980
1982
1984	Group stage	8th	3	0	1	2	1	7	Squad
1986	Did not qualify
1988	Did not qualify
1990	Withdrew
1992	Did not qualify
1994	Withdrew during qualifying
1996	Did not qualify
1998	Group stage	12th	3	1	0	2	3	3	Squad
2000		10th	3	1	1	1	2	3	Squad
2002		12th	3	0	2	1	0	3	Squad
2004	Did not qualify
2006	Group stage	16th	3	0	0	3	2	7	Squad
2008	Did not qualify
2010	Withdrew due to rebel attack
2012	Did not qualify
2013	Quarter-finals	8th	4	1	1	2	4	4	Squad
2015	Did not qualify
2017	Group stage	16th	3	0	1	2	2	6	Squad
2019	Did not qualify
2021	Did not qualify
2023	To be determined
Total	Quarter-finals	8/33	25	3	8	14	18	39	—

African Nations Championship[]

African Nations Championship record
Appearances: 1
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
2009	Did not qualify
2011
2014
2016
2018
2020	Group stage	11th	3	1	0	2	4	5
2022	To be determined
Total	Group stage	1/6	3	1	0	2	4	5

African Games[]

Football at the African Games has been an under-23 tournament since 1991.

African Games record
Year	Result	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1965	Group stage	3	1	1	1	5	9
1973	Withdrew
1978	Withdrew
1987	Did not qualify
1991–present	See
Total	1/4	3	1	1	1	5	9

References[]

^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
^ "Sky Sports | Football News". Home.skysports.com. Archived from the original on 2007-01-25. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
^ https://www.fifa.com/en/media/index/0,1369,120470,00.html?articleid=120470. Retrieved August 30, 2006. Missing or empty |title= (help)^{[dead link]}
^ "African Cup of Nations — NoConfusion over Togo death toll". Reuters. 2010-01-09. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
^ "Kodjovi Obilalé n'est pas décédé des suites de ses blessures (Agence AFP)" (in French). Archived from the original on 2007-02-22. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
^ Nick Reeves (2010-01-10). "Togo in dramatic African Nations Cup u-turn". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
^ "Togo officially disqualified from Africa Cup of Nations". BBC Sport. BBC. 2010-01-11. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Togo's withdrawal, Confederation of African Football, 30 January 2010
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d "Togo banned from next two Africa Cups of Nations". BBC Sport. BBC. 30 January 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
^ "Togo suspended for next two Africa Nations Cup". Xinhua. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
^ Regulations of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations (PDF), Confederation of African Football
^ Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor slams 'outrageous' ban, BBC Sport, 31 January 2010
^ 'Fake' Togo football team at Bahrain match being investigated, BBC News, 15 September 2010
^ Fake mastermind behind fake Togo team revealed!, Yahoo, 20 September 2010, archived from the original on 26 September 2010
^ Buncombe, Andrew (29 March 2013). "Dan Tan: the man who fixed football". The Independent. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
^ https://togofoot.tg/2021/08/14/elim-cdm-2022-la-liste-de-paulo-duarte-pour-les-deux-premieres-journees/

External links[]

Togo FA official site
Togo national football team picture

[FIFA_World_Rankings-1] "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.

[World_Football_Elo_Ratings-2] Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.

[3] "Sky Sports | Football News". Home.skysports.com. Archived from the original on 2007-01-25. Retrieved 2010-02-04.

[4] ttps://www.fifa.com/en/media/index/0,1369,120470,00.html?articleid=120470. Retrieved August 30, 2006. Missing or empty |title= (help)^{[dead link]}

[5] "African Cup of Nations — NoConfusion over Togo death toll". Reuters. 2010-01-09. Retrieved 2010-02-01.

[6] "Kodjovi Obilalé n'est pas décédé des suites de ses blessures (Agence AFP)" (in French). Archived from the original on 2007-02-22. Retrieved 2010-02-01.

[7] Nick Reeves (2010-01-10). "Togo in dramatic African Nations Cup u-turn". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2010-02-01.

[8] "Togo officially disqualified from Africa Cup of Nations". BBC Sport. BBC. 2010-01-11. Retrieved 2010-02-01.

[CAF_announcement-9] Jump up to: ^a ^b Togo's withdrawal, Confederation of African Football, 30 January 2010

[Togo_banned_from_next_two_Africa_Cups_of_Nations-10] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d "Togo banned from next two Africa Cups of Nations". BBC Sport. BBC. 30 January 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2010.

[Togo_suspended_for_next_two_Africa_Nations_Cup-11] "Togo suspended for next two Africa Nations Cup". Xinhua. Retrieved 31 January 2010.

[12] Regulations of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations (PDF), Confederation of African Football

[13] Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor slams 'outrageous' ban, BBC Sport, 31 January 2010

[14] 'Fake' Togo football team at Bahrain match being investigated, BBC News, 15 September 2010

[15] Fake mastermind behind fake Togo team revealed!, Yahoo, 20 September 2010, archived from the original on 26 September 2010

[Indepenent-16] Buncombe, Andrew (29 March 2013). "Dan Tan: the man who fixed football". The Independent. Retrieved 30 November 2013.

[17] ttps://togofoot.tg/2021/08/14/elim-cdm-2022-la-liste-de-paulo-duarte-pour-les-deux-premieres-journees/

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show v t Togo national football team
General	History
Venues	Stade de Kégué
Statistics
FIFA World Cup	2006
Africa Cup of Nations	1972 1984 1998 2000 2002 2006 2010 2013
Coupe Houphouët-Boigny	1982 1983
Related Articles	2007 Paramount Airlines Mil Mi-8 crash Togo national football team attack
Other FTF teams	Men Under-20 Under-17 Women

show v t National football teams of Africa (CAF)
North Africa (UNAF)	Algeria Egypt Libya Morocco Tunisia
West Africa (WAFU)	Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Ivory Coast Liberia Mali Mauritania Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo
East Africa (CECAFA)	Burundi Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Rwanda Somalia South Sudan Sudan Tanzania Uganda Zanzibar¹
Central Africa (UNIFFAC)	Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Congo DR Congo Equatorial Guinea Gabon São Tomé and Príncipe
Southern Africa (COSAFA)	Angola Botswana Comoros Eswatini Lesotho Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Seychelles South Africa Zambia Zimbabwe
Non-regional Members	Réunion¹
¹ Associate member of CAF but not member of FIFA

show v t National sports teams of Togo
Badminton Basketball M W Football M M U/20 M U/17 W Handball M W Rugby union Tennis Volleyball
Olympics Paralympics African Games