Togo
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Les Éperviers
(The Sparrowhawks)
AssociationFédération Togolaise de Football (FTF)
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationWAFU (West Africa)
Head coachPaulo Duarte
CaptainDjené
Most capsAbdoul-Gafar Mamah (93)[1]
Top scorerEmmanuel Adebayor (32)
Home stadiumStade de Kégué
FIFA codeTOG
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 118 Steady (21 December 2023)[2]
Highest46 (August 2006)
Lowest133 (April 2021)
First international
France 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
Appearances1 (first in 2006)
Best resultGroup stage, 2006
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances8 (first in 1972)
Best resultQuarter-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."

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 Obilalé was reported dead a day after the attack, though he actually survived.[4] Such reports were later dismissed by his club GSI Pontivy in a press announcement, stating the player was actually undergoing surgery in South Africa.[5]

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),[6] the government later ordered that the team return home.[7]

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".[8][9][10] 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),[8][11] 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".[9] FIFA has yet to comment on the issue.[9] 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".[9] Togolese captain Emmanuel Adebayor described the decision as "outrageous" and said that CAF President Issa Hayatou had "completely betrayed" the Togo squad.[12]

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".[13] 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.[14] The match fixing has been linked to Wilson Raj Perumal and the Singaporean match-fixing syndicate allegedly run by Tan Seet Eng.[15]

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

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

2023

24 March 2023 AFCON qualification Burkina Faso  1–0  Togo Marrakesh, Morocco
19:00
  • Tapsoba 87'
 Report Stadium: Stade de Marrakesh
Referee: Maguette Ndiaye (Senegal)
14 June Friendly Togo  2–0  Lesotho Johannesburg, South Africa
16:00 UTC+2 Agbagno 4'
Denkey 22'		 Report Stadium: Bidvest Stadium
18 June 2023 AFCON qualification Eswatini  0–2  Togo Mbombela, South Africa
17:00 UTC+2 Report
Stadium: Mbombela Stadium
Referee: Peter Waweru (Kenya)
10 September 2023 AFCON qualification Togo  3–2  Cape Verde Lomé, Togo
16:00 UTC±0
Report
Stadium: Stade de Kégué
Referee: Ibrahim Mutaz (Libya)
16 November 2026 World Cup qualification Sudan  1–1  Togo Benina, Libya
18:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Martyrs of February Stadium
Referee: Andofetra Rakotojaona (Madagascar)

2024

5 January Friendly Togo A'  0–3  Algeria Lomé, Togo
21:00 UTC±0 Report (FAF)
Stadium: Stade de Kégué
Referee: Raphiou Ligali (Benin)

Coaches

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Players

Current squad

The following players were selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Sudan and Senegal on 16 and 21 November 2023.[16]

Caps and goals correct as of 21 November 2023, after the match against Senegal.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Steven Mensah (2003-05-22) 22 May 2003 4 0 Togo ASC Kara
1GK Fabrice Kagbatawouli (2002-12-28) 28 December 2002 1 0 Togo ASC Kara
1GK Idrissa Ogodjo (1996-03-08) 8 March 1996 1 0 Togo Entente II Lomé
2DF Djené (1991-12-31) 31 December 1991 75 0 Spain Getafe
2DF Loïc Bessilé (1999-02-19) 19 February 1999 13 0 Belgium Eupen
2DF Mawouna Amevor (1991-12-16) 16 December 1991 10 0 Netherlands Eindhoven
2DF Roland Amouzou (1994-12-18) 18 December 1994 6 0 Togo ASKO Kara
2DF Philip Awuku (2000-04-27) 27 April 2000 0 0 Turkey Tuzlaspor
3MF Alaixys Romao (1984-01-18) 18 January 1984 85 0 Greece Ionikos
3MF Marouf Tchakei (1995-12-15) 15 December 1995 29 2 Democratic Republic of the Congo AS Vita Club
3MF Karim Dermane (2003-12-26) 26 December 2003 11 1 Belgium Lommel
3MF Roger Aholou (1993-12-30) 30 December 1993 10 0 Morocco Raja CA
3MF Khaled Narey (1994-07-23) 23 July 1994 2 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Khaleej
3MF Soulemane Ouro-Gafo (1997-12-31) 31 December 1997 1 0 Togo Gomido
4FW Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba (1992-01-27) 27 January 1992 47 19 United Arab Emirates Al Ain
4FW Ihlas Bebou (1994-04-23) 23 April 1994 35 1 Germany 1899 Hoffenheim
4FW Euloge Placca Fessou (1994-12-31) 31 December 1994 33 9 Belarus Shakhtyor Soligorsk
4FW Kévin Denkey (2000-11-30) 30 November 2000 28 7 Belgium Cercle Brugge
4FW David Henen (1996-04-19) 19 April 1996 18 1 Belgium Kortrijk
4FW Thibault Klidjé (2001-07-10) 10 July 2001 8 0 Switzerland Luzern
4FW Abdou Ouattara (1995-04-06) 6 April 1995 7 1 Saudi Arabia Al-Nairyah Club
4FW Kodjo Aziangbe (2003-12-14) 14 December 2003 5 0 Ukraine Zorya Luhansk
4FW Yaw Annor (1997-12-03) 3 December 1997 2 0 Egypt Ismaily

Recent call-ups

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 Malcolm Barcola (1999-05-14) 14 May 1999 21 0 Bosnia and Herzegovina Tuzla City v.  Eswatini, 18 June 2023
GK Wassiou Ouro-Gneni (1997-02-14) 14 February 1997 8 0 Togo ASC Kara v.  Eswatini, 18 June 2023
GK Patrice Adzinyo (2003-03-22) 22 March 2003 0 0 Germany Hamburger SV v.  Eswatini, 18 June 2023
DF Frédéric Ananou (1997-09-20) 20 September 1997 5 0 Belgium Sint-Truidense V.V. v.  Cape Verde, 10 September 2023
DF Klousseh Agbozo (1994-06-26) 26 June 1994 15 0 Tunisia Olympique Béja v.  Eswatini, 18 June 2023
DF Emmanuel Hackman (1995-05-14) 14 May 1995 8 0 Serbia Mladost Novi Sad v.  Eswatini, 18 June 2023
DF Kennedy Boateng (1996-11-19) 19 November 1996 7 0 Portugal Santa Clara v.  Eswatini, 18 June 2023
DF Cédric Agbobli (1994-12-18) 18 December 1994 0 0 Togo ASKO Kara v.  Eswatini, 18 June 2023
DF Steven Nador (2002-06-23) 23 June 2002 2 0 Italy Montevarchi Aquila v.  Burkina Faso, 28 March 2023
MF Yendoutié Nane (1995-06-23) 23 June 1995 16 4 Guinea Hafia v.  Eswatini, 18 June 2023
MF Gnama Akaté (1991-11-25) 25 November 1991 15 1 Iraq Al-Naft v.  Eswatini, 18 June 2023
MF Samuel Asamoah (1994-03-23) 23 March 1994 6 0 Romania FC U Craiova v.  Eswatini, 18 June 2023
MF Samsondin Ouro (2000-03-02) 2 March 2000 6 0 Slovenia Radomlje v.  Eswatini, 18 June 2023
MF Baptiste Atakora (2003-12-14) 14 December 2003 0 0 Ukraine Zorya Luhansk v.  Eswatini, 18 June 2023
FW Ismaïl Ouro-Agoro (1996-02-20) 20 February 1996 14 0 Morocco AS FAR v.  Eswatini, 18 June 2023
FW Emmanuel Kpatenon (1995-04-06) 6 April 1995 1 0 Togo ASKO Kara v.  Eswatini, 18 June 2023
FW Bernard Akpabli (1996-02-07) 7 February 1996 0 0 Togo ASKO Kara v.  Eswatini, 18 June 2023
FW Henri Gbadamassi (2000-05-25) 25 May 2000 0 0 Togo AS OTR v.  Eswatini, 18 June 2023
FW Tawfik Moukaïla (1998-07-30) 30 July 1998 2 0 Togo ASC Kara v.  Burkina Faso, 28 March 2023

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 21 November 2023[17]
Players in bold are still active with Togo.

Most appearances

Abdoul-Gafar Mamah is Togo's most capped player with 93 appearances.
Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1Abdoul-Gafar Mamah9302000–2016
2Emmanuel Adebayor88322000–2019
3Alaixys Romao8502005–present
4Kossi Agassa8401998–2017
5Moustapha Salifou7782000–2013
6Djené Dakonam7502012–present
7Jean-Paul Abalo7411992–2008
8Komlan Améwou6952000–2015
9Tadjou Salou62121992–2004
10Serge Akakpo6122008–2017
Mohamed Kader61131995–2009

Top goalscorers

Emmanuel Adebayor is Togo's top scorer with 32 goals.
Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1Emmanuel Adebayor (list)32880.362000–2019
2Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba19470.42016–present
3Kossi Noutsoudje13400.331994–2002
Mohamed Kader13610.211995–2009
5Tadjou Salou12620.191992–2004
6Floyd Ayité11480.232007–present
7Euloge Placca Fessou9330.272012–present
Adékambi Olufadé9410.221998–2010
9Moustapha Salifou8770.12000–2013
10Kévin Denkey7280.252018–present
Djima Oyawole7310.231996–2006
Bachirou Salou7370.191987–1998
Dové Womé7400.182009–present
Chérif Touré Mamam7470.151998–2009

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
Uruguay 1930 Part of  France Part of  France
Italy 1934
France 1938
Brazil 1950
Switzerland 1954
Sweden 1958
Chile 1962 Did not enter Did not enter
England 1966
Mexico 1970
West Germany 1974 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 0 4
Argentina 1978 4 1 1 2 3 5
Spain 1982 2 1 0 1 2 2
Mexico 1986 Withdrew Withdrew
Italy 1990
United States 1994 Did not qualify 5 0 0 5 2 11
France 1998 8 2 2 4 9 16
South Korea Japan 2002 10 3 4 3 13 13
Germany 2006 Group stage 30th 3 0 0 3 1 6 Squad 12 8 2 2 22 9
South Africa 2010 Did not qualify 10 4 2 4 11 10
Brazil 2014 8 2 2 4 6 12
Russia 2018 2 0 0 2 0 4
Qatar 2022 833287
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined 101011
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 To be determined
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total Group stage 1/22 3 0 0 3 1 6 — 72 24 17 31 77 94

Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad
Sudan 1957Part of  France
United Arab Republic 1959
Ethiopia 1962Not affiliated to CAF
Ghana 1963
Tunisia 1965Did not enter
Ethiopia 1968Did not qualify
Sudan 1970
Cameroon 1972 Group stage 7th 3 0 2 1 4 6 Squad
Egypt 1974Withdrew
Ethiopia 1976Did not qualify
Ghana 1978
Nigeria 1980
Libya 1982
Ivory Coast 1984 Group stage 8th 3 0 1 2 1 7 Squad
Egypt 1986Did not qualify
Morocco 1988
Algeria 1990Withdrew
Senegal 1992Did not qualify
Tunisia 1994Withdrew during qualifying
South Africa 1996Did not qualify
Burkina Faso 1998 Group stage 12th 3 1 0 2 3 3 Squad
Ghana Nigeria 2000 10th 3 1 1 1 2 3 Squad
Mali 2002 12th 3 0 2 1 0 3 Squad
Tunisia 2004Did not qualify
Egypt 2006 Group stage 16th 3 0 0 3 2 7 Squad
Ghana 2008Did not qualify
Angola 2010Withdrew due to rebel attack
Equatorial Guinea Gabon 2012Did not qualify
South Africa 2013 Quarter-finals 8th 4 1 1 2 4 4 Squad
Equatorial Guinea 2015Did not qualify
Gabon 2017 Group stage 16th 3 0 1 2 2 6 Squad
Egypt 2019 Did not qualify
Cameroon 2021
Ivory Coast 2023
Morocco 2025 To be determined
Kenya Tanzania Uganda 2027
Total Quarter-finals 8/36 25 3 8 14 18 39 —

African Nations Championship

African Nations Championship record
Appearances: 1
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Ivory Coast 2009Did not qualify
Sudan 2011
South Africa 2014
Rwanda 2016
Morocco 2018
Cameroon 2020Group stage11th310245
Algeria 2022Did not qualify
TotalGroup stage1/7310245

African Games

African Games record
YearRoundPldWDLGFGA
Republic of the Congo 1965Group stage311159
Kenya 1987Did not qualify
Total1/4311159

Honours

West African Nations Cup :
    • Runner-up (4): 1982, 1983 ,1984, 1986
    • Fourth Place (1): 1987

References

  1. ↑ Mamrud, Roberto. "Abdoul-Gafar Mamah - International Appearances". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  2. ↑ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "Sky Sports | Football News". Home.skysports.com. Archived from the original on 2007-01-25. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
  4. ↑ "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.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. 1 2 "Togo's withdrawal". Confederation of African Football. 30 January 2010. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "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.
  10. ↑ "Togo suspended for next two Africa Nations Cup". Xinhua. Archived from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  11. ↑ Regulations of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations (PDF). Confederation of African Football. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2010.
  12. ↑ "Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor slams 'outrageous' ban". BBC Sport. 31 January 2010. Archived from the original on 1 February 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  13. ↑ "'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.
  14. ↑ "Fake mastermind behind fake Togo team revealed!". Yahoo. 20 September 2010. Archived from the original on 26 September 2010.
  15. ↑ 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.
  16. ↑ "Final Squad". Facebook. Fédération Togolaise de Football.
  17. ↑ Mamrud, Roberto. "Togo - Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
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