Young Togo side faces uphill struggle

LOME (Reuters) -- Togo's young squad go into the African Nations Cup full of enthusiasm but face an uphill struggle to secure its first ever quarterfinals place.

The side has qualified four times, including in the last two competitions, but has never made it through the group stage.

It looks unlikely to do so this time with in-form World Cup qualifier Cameroon as favorite in group C, which also includes Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Still, coach Bana Tchanile says that despite being the underdog on paper, his young players would play hard.

"This time we are going to fight to get through to the quarterfinals," he said after the draw was announced in September. Tchanile is basing his campaign on an influx of young players -- it is the first African Nations tournament for nearly half the squad -- with a few old hands to lend experience.

They include Abdelkader Coubadja, who helped topple four-times winners Ghana in 1998, and Massamaesso Tchangai, whose goal caused one of the biggest upsets of the 2000 tournament, securing the only defeat of eventual winner Cameroon.

The "Sparrowhawks" will also be relying on the hands of keeper Kossi Agassa, now with French side Metz, and hoping striker Olufade Adekamni will be able to reproduce on the international stage the success he has had at French first division side Lille.

But the players' enthusiasm has failed to drum up material support, and Togo's media have bemoaned a lack of funding for the side's campaign.

President Gnassingbe Eyadema publicly offered 100 million CFA francs (US$136,000) towards the projected 1.2 billion CFA franc cost of the campaign, and businesses and public officials have also been asked to help make up the shortfall.

The Togolese did impress in their qualifying campaign, finishing top of a group that also included surprise World Cup finalist Senegal.

 

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