Tchanille's foresight reaps dividends

LOME (Reuters) -- Bana Tchanille made the African Nations Cup his priority immediately after taking over as coach of Togo 18 months ago.

Togo played with two separate teams in the recent qualifiers for the Nations Cup and the World Cup, saving its best players in its attempts to secure a place in Mali and using the World Cup qualifiers to blood players on the fringe of national team selection.

The policy paid off for the 45-year-old coach as Togo won its qualifying group to ensure a third successive appearance at the Nations Cup finals.

Bana started his coaching career in neighboring Niger, where he was coach of both Sahel SC and their great rivals JS Tenere.

He was working as coach of the Ivorian club Satellite FC before he was offered a chance to return home and take over as coach of Togo.

Bana's playing career was restricted to two clubs in Togo; Semassi Sokode from 1978 to 1984 and then two years at Foadan de Dapaong. He has been in charge of 21 games for Togo, winning nine and losing just five.

 

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