Togo national football team
Nickname(s) | Les Éperviers (The Sparrowhawks) | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | Fédération Togolaise de Football (FTF) | ||
Confederation | CAF (Africa) | ||
Sub-confederation | WAFU (West Africa) | ||
Head coach | Dare Nibombe | ||
Captain | Djené | ||
Most caps | Abdoul-Gafar Mamah, Alaixys Romao (93)[1] | ||
Top scorer | Emmanuel Adebayor (32) | ||
Home stadium | Stade de Kégué | ||
FIFA code | TOG | ||
| |||
FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 119 4 (28 November 2024)[2] | ||
Highest | 163 (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, Togo; 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) |
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 the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
History
[edit]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 was known as French Togoland.
2006 World Cup
[edit]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;[4] 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."
Togo's final group game against France ended in a 2–0 defeat.
Sierra Leone air disaster
[edit]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
[edit]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 Obilalé was reported dead a day after the attack, though he actually survived.[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 US$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 anymore. 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] FIFA subsequently helped lifted their ban entirely.[14]
As a result of the events, Emmanuel Adebayor announced his retirement from international football on 12 April 2010.[15] But on 22 March 2011, Adebayor announced that he was again available for the national team.[16]
Fake Togo Team
[edit]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 Sports Minister Christophe Tchao said to the Jeune Afrique magazine that nobody in Togo had "ever been informed of such a game".[17] 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.[18] The match fixing has been linked to Wilson Raj Perumal and the Singaporean match-fixing syndicate allegedly run by Tan Seet Eng.[19]
2014 World Cup Qualification
[edit]Togo began qualification for the 2014 World Cup on 11 November 2011, against Guinea-Bissau. They drew in the first leg 1–1. On 15 November 2011, they won the return leg 1–0. On 3 June 2012, they played Libya in Lome and drew 1–1. Shortly after on 10 June they played Congo DR at Kinshasa and lost 2–0. They resumed on 3 March 2013, and played Cameroon in Yaounde and lost 2–1. They met again on 9 June in Lome and Togo won 2–0. In the end, Togo failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Results and fixtures
[edit]The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Win Draw Loss Fixture
2024
[edit]5 January Friendly | Togo A' | 0–3 | Algeria | Lomé, Togo |
21:00 UTC±0 | Report (FAF) |
|
Stadium: Stade de Kégué Referee: Raphiou Ligali (Benin) |
22 March Friendly | Niger | 1–2 | Togo | Mohammedia, Morocco |
22:00 UTC±0 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: El Bachir Stadium |
26 March Friendly | Togo | 1–1 | Libya | Casablanca, Morocco |
22:00 UTC+1 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Père Jégo Stadium |
5 June 2026 World Cup qualification | Togo | 1–1 | South Sudan | Lomé, Togo |
16:00 UTC±0 |
|
Report | Stadium: Stade de Kégué Referee: Celso Alvação (Mozambique) |
9 June 2026 World Cup qualification | DR Congo | 1–0 | Togo | Kinshasa, DR Congo |
17:00 UTC+1 |
|
Report | Stadium: Stade des Martyrs Referee: Mehrez Malki (Tunisia) |
6 September 2025 AFCON qualification | Togo | 1–1 | Liberia | Lomé, Togo |
16:00 UTC±0 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Stade de Kégué Referee: Godfrey Nkhakananga (Malawi) |
9 September 2025 AFCON qualification | Equatorial Guinea | 2–2 | Togo | Malabo, Equatorial Guinea |
17:00 UTC+1 | Report | Stadium: Estadio de Malabo Referee: Pacifique Ndabihawenimana (Burundi) |
10 October 2025 AFCON qualification | Algeria | 5–1 | Togo | Annaba, Algeria |
20:00 UTC+1 | Report |
|
Stadium: 19 May 1956 Stadium Attendance: 60,000 Referee: Boubou Traoré (Mali) |
14 October 2025 AFCON qualification | Togo | 0–1 | Algeria | Lomé, Togo |
16:00 UTC±0 | Report |
|
Stadium: Stade de Kégué Referee: Jean-Jacques Ndala (Congo DR) |
25 October 2024 African Nations Championship qualification | Togo | 2–0 | Benin | Lomé, Togo |
16:00 UTC±0 | Report | Stadium: Stade de Kégué |
2 November 2024 African Nations Championship qualification | Benin | 1-1 (1-3 agg.) | Togo | Abidjan, Ivory Coast |
17:00 UTC±0 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium |
Note: Togo won 3–1 on aggregate. |
13 November 2025 AFCON qualification | Liberia | 1-0 | Togo | Monrovia, Liberia |
15:00 UTC±0 | Report | Stadium: Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Attendance: 8,543 Referee: Mohamed Athoumani (Comoros) |
18 November 2025 AFCON qualification | Togo | 3-0 | Equatorial Guinea | Lomé, Togo |
15:00 UTC±0 | Report | Stadium: Stade de Kégué Referee: Hillary Hambaba (Zambia) |
Coaches
[edit]- Caretaker managers are listed in italics.
- Jean Robin (1965)
- Gottlieb Göller (1970–1974, 1984, 1996–1997, 1998–2000)
- Boško Antić (1987–1989)
- Julien Dovi Aguiar (1992)
- Baboima Ergot (1993)
- Paul Messan Zougbédé (1997)
- Eberhard Vogel (1997–1998)
- Kodjovi Mawuéna (2000)
- Bana Tchanile (2000–2002)
- Diego Garzitto (2002)
- Antônio Dumas (2002–2004)
- Stephen Keshi (2004–2006, 2007–2008, 2011)
- Otto Pfister (2006)
- Henri Stambouli (2008)
- Kodjovi Mawuéna (2008–2009)
- Jean Thissen (2009)
- Hubert Velud (2009–2010)
- Thierry Froger (2010–2011)
- Didier Six (2011–2014)
- Tchakala Tchanilé (2014)
- Tom Saintfiet (2015–2016)
- Claude Le Roy (2016–2021)
- Jonas Komla (2021)
- Paulo Duarte (2021–2024)
- Dare Nibombe (2024–present)
Players
[edit]Current squad
[edit]The following players were selected for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Liberia and Equatorial Guinea on 6 and 9 September 2024.[20]
Caps and goals correct as of 9 September 2024, after the match against Equatorial Guinea.
Recent call-ups
[edit]The following players have been called up for Togo in the last twelve months.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Steven Mensah | 22 May 2003 | 6 | 0 | Hamburger SV II | v. DR Congo, 9 June 2024 |
GK | Fabrice Kagbatawouli | 28 December 2002 | 0 | 0 | ASC Kara | v. DR Congo, 9 June 2024 |
GK | Idrissa Ogodjo | 8 March 1996 | 0 | 0 | Entente II Lomé | v. Senegal, 21 November 2023 |
DF | Klousseh Agbozo | 26 June 1994 | 16 | 0 | Stade Tunisien | v. DR Congo, 9 June 2024 |
DF | Kévin Boma | 20 November 2002 | 2 | 0 | Estoril Praia | v. DR Congo, 9 June 2024 |
DF | Koffi Benjamin Holete | 17 January 2003 | 0 | 0 | ASC Kara | v. DR Congo, 9 June 2024 |
DF | Ayayi Zonor | 7 April 1990 | 1 | 0 | Gomido FC | v. Libya, 26 March 2024 |
DF | Roland Amouzou | 18 December 1994 | 6 | 0 | Ashanti Gold | v. Senegal, 21 November 2023 |
DF | Philip Awuku | 27 April 2000 | 0 | 0 | Tuzlaspor | v. Senegal, 21 November 2023 |
MF | Samuel Asamoah | 23 March 1994 | 5 | 0 | Qingdao Red Lions | v. DR Congo, 9 June 2024 |
MF | Dikeni Salifou | 8 June 2003 | 0 | 0 | Austria Klagenfurt | v. DR Congo, 9 June 2024 |
MF | Soulemane Ouro-Gafo | 31 December 1997 | 1 | 0 | Gomido | v. Senegal, 21 November 2023 |
FW | Ihlas Bebou | 23 April 1994 | 37 | 1 | 1899 Hoffenheim | v. DR Congo, 9 June 2024 |
FW | Abdou Ouattara | 6 April 1995 | 6 | 1 | Defence Force | v. DR Congo, 9 June 2024 |
FW | Euloge Placca Fessou | 31 December 1994 | 36 | 9 | Jeonnam Dragons | v. Libya, 26 March 2024 |
FW | David Henen | 19 April 1996 | 19 | 1 | Tobol | v. Libya, 26 March 2024 |
DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up. |
Records
[edit]- As of 17 November 2024[21]
- Players in bold are still active with Togo.
Most appearances
[edit]Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Abdoul-Gafar Mamah | 93 | 0 | 2000–2016 |
Alaixys Romao | 93 | 0 | 2005–present | |
3 | Emmanuel Adebayor | 88 | 32 | 2000–2019 |
4 | Kossi Agassa | 84 | 0 | 1998–2017 |
Djené Dakonam | 84 | 0 | 2012–present | |
6 | Moustapha Salifou | 77 | 8 | 2000–2013 |
7 | Jean-Paul Abalo | 74 | 1 | 1992–2008 |
8 | Komlan Améwou | 69 | 5 | 2000–2015 |
9 | Tadjou Salou | 62 | 12 | 1992–2004 |
10 | Serge Akakpo | 61 | 2 | 2008–2017 |
Mohamed Kader | 61 | 13 | 1995–2009 |
Top goalscorers
[edit]Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Emmanuel Adebayor (list) | 32 | 88 | 0.36 | 2000–2019 |
2 | Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba | 20 | 52 | 0.38 | 2016–present |
3 | Kossi Noutsoudje | 13 | 40 | 0.33 | 1994–2002 |
Mohamed Kader | 13 | 61 | 0.21 | 1995–2009 | |
5 | Tadjou Salou | 12 | 62 | 0.19 | 1992–2004 |
6 | Floyd Ayité | 11 | 48 | 0.23 | 2007–2022 |
7 | Euloge Placca Fessou | 9 | 36 | 0.25 | 2012–present |
Adékambi Olufadé | 9 | 41 | 0.22 | 1998–2010 | |
9 | Kévin Denkey | 8 | 37 | 0.22 | 2018–present |
Moustapha Salifou | 8 | 77 | 0.1 | 2000–2013 |
Competition records
[edit]FIFA World Cup
[edit]FIFA World Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Squad | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
1930 to 1958 | Part of France | Part of France | ||||||||||||||
1962 | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | ||||||||||||||
1966 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
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 | ||||||||||||||||
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 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 7 | ||||||||||
2026 | To be determined | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||
2030 | To be determined | |||||||||||||||
2034 | ||||||||||||||||
Total | Group stage | 1/15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | — | 74 | 24 | 18 | 32 | 78 | 96 |
Africa Cup of Nations
[edit]Africa Cup of Nations record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Squad |
1957 | Part of France | ||||||||
1959 | |||||||||
1962 | Not affiliated to CAF | ||||||||
1963 | |||||||||
1965 | Did not enter | ||||||||
1968 | Did not qualify | ||||||||
1970 | |||||||||
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 | |||||||||
1990 | Withdrew | ||||||||
1992 | Did not qualify | ||||||||
1994 | Withdrew during qualifying | ||||||||
1996 | Did not qualify | ||||||||
1998 | Group stage | 12th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 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 | |||||||||
2023 | |||||||||
2025 | |||||||||
2027 | To be determined | ||||||||
2029 | |||||||||
Total | Quarter-finals | 8/34 | 25 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 19 | 42 | — |
African Nations Championship
[edit]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 | Did not qualify | |||||||
Total | Group stage | 1/7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
African Games
[edit]African Games record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
1965 | Group stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 9 | |
1987 | Did not qualify | |||||||
Total | 1/4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 9 |
Honours
[edit]Regional
[edit]- West African Nations Cup
- Runners-up (4): 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986
- WAFU Nations Cup
- Third place (1): 2013
References
[edit]- ^ Mamrud, Roberto. "Abdoul-Gafar Mamah - International Appearances". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ "Sky Sports | Football News". Home.skysports.com. Archived from the original on 2007-01-25. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
- ^ "African Cup of Nations — NoConfusion over Togo death toll". Reuters. 2010-01-09. Archived from the original on 2010-01-12. 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. Archived from the original on 2011-11-19. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
- ^ "Togo officially disqualified from Africa Cup of Nations". BBC Sport. BBC. 2010-01-11. Archived from the original on 2010-01-14. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
- ^ a b "Togo's withdrawal". Confederation of African Football. 30 January 2010. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Togo banned from next two Africa Cups of Nations". BBC Sport. BBC. 30 January 2010. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
- ^ "Togo suspended for next two Africa Nations Cup". Xinhua. Archived from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ^ Regulations of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations (PDF). Confederation of African Football. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2010.
- ^ "Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor slams 'outrageous' ban". BBC Sport. 31 January 2010. Archived from the original on 1 February 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ^ "FIFA boss helps lift African Cup ban on Togo". France 24. 2010-05-08. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ Taylor, Daniel (2010-04-12). "Emmanuel Adebayor retires from international football after bus attack". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ "Adebayor returns for Togo | Football News". NDTVSports.com. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ "'Fake' Togo football team at Bahrain match being investigated". BBC News. 15 September 2010. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "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. Archived from the original on 2022-06-21. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- ^ "Final Squad". Facebook. Fédération Togolaise de Football.
- ^ Mamrud, Roberto. "Togo - Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2023-02-02.