AFCON 2025 (Q): Togo's Sparrowhawks mix hard graft with a charm offensive
Togo's Eperviers (Sparrowhawks) have begun preparations for the first two matches of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifiers.
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The Togo national football team began their preparations for the AFCON 2025 qualifiers on 2 September with a training camp in Lomé. The camp ends on 5 September, 24 hours before the qualifiers kick off against Liberia's Lone Star. Nibombé Daré's squad is now complete, with Kennedy Boateng and Josué Homawoo arriving in time to join the team dinner on Tuesday evening. What will they do over these four days in camp? Which areas will the head coach and his staff focus on?
Nibombé Daré and his staff already at work...
Togo's Eperviers officially got going on Monday with their very first training session at the Stade de Kégué in Lomé, ahead of their next two matches in the AFCON 2025 qualifying phase. That opening session centred on possession play and passing. On Tuesday, at the Swallows Centre, Nibombé Daré's players moved on to tactical work, combinations and attacking phases of play. After working on attacking moves, the Eperviers turned to defensive phases. On Wednesday and Thursday, the players will return to the Stade de Kégué after the sessions at the Swallows Centre.
Charm offensive
Beyond the football, the Togo national team have also launched, under the auspices of the federation (FTF), the charm offensive that precedes every major international competition. This time it has a particular dimension, as Togo are playing at home. The training sessions held in front of supporters on Monday let the Eperviers gauge their popularity. The same goes for Nibombé Daré's new coaching staff.
Final tweaks
Barring accidents, the last two training sessions will be held behind closed doors, with the first 15 minutes open to the press, as CAF regulations require. Nibombé Daré still has plenty on his plate: he needs to win to get the team back on a winning track, as they have struggled to get results in front of their own fans for some time. On the other hand, Togo's squad is packed with options to take the three points against Liberia.
Togo will face Liberia on 6 September at the Stade de Kégué in Lomé, with kick-off at 16:00 GMT (1st matchday), and Equatorial Guinea on 9 September at the Estadio de Malabo, also at 16:00 GMT (2nd matchday), in the first two matches of the AFCON 2025 qualifying phase.