Football - Togo: Wind of renewal and promises for the Patrice Neveu era

The accounting record speaks for itself: a frustrating draw against Guinea (2-2) and a narrow win  against Niger (1-0). For a team that stayed on three unsuccessful matches, this March FIFA window acted as a real catalyst of confidence. Worn by a Kevin Denkey (Cincinnati, MLS) still as clinical and author of the only goal against Niger from the 5th minute, the Sparks showed a conquering face, but above all new.

A project of rejuvenation assumed
The major lesson of this gathering lies in the deep change of the group. With an average age of around 23 years and the integration of nine new players, Patrice Neveu and his staff injected new blood. "It’s an important element: the team has really rejuvenated," says one of our internal staff. "We only had three or four players over 30 years old. Everything else is 20, 21 or 22 years old. It’s a real project.”

This youth brought a visible carelessness in the first half against Niger, where Togo outrageously dominated the debates. « In the content, it’s really interesting. We created very big opportunities for ourselves, we were well in place. In the first half, you dominate the debates, whether it’s in possession or placement,” explains a staff member.

Charles Abi made his debut with the Eperviers.
Among these new faces, one of them particularly attracted attention: Charles Abi. The former hope of AS Saint-Étienne, whom many thought lost for the high level, was the great satisfaction of the general manager, Serge Akakpo.

"For two or three years, it had almost disappeared from the radars," confides Akakpo. "There, I think he rebalanced. He is much more mature, more explosive. It’s one of the beautiful surprises of this window. It brought added value in conservation, tactical intelligence... Whether at a support point or in depth, it was valuable.

Learn to "suffer" together
If the match against Guinea left regrets (Togo led 2-0 until the 85th minute before being caught), the meeting against Niger showed another side of the team: resilience. Jostled in the second period by daring Nigerians, the Éperviers folded without breaking.

We suffered a lot. But it allowed us to see that the team was capable of defending, everyone was in solidarity," explains the Eperviers manager. “Denkey and Abi made the efforts, the defensive retreats... These are forging matches. Sometimes, you win 3-0 and you are happy, but that’s not what builds a team.”

Patrice Neveu, true to his reputation as a demanding technician, is not mistaken: "It was important to reassure us and also reward the players for their work. We should have led much more widely at halftime.”

Heading for the month of June
Neveu’s requirement already seems to infuse in the locker room. Described as a coach who "wants everyone to push themselves to the maximum", the French technician succeeded in his first observation phase. But the hardest part remains to be done.

" We are in a phase of renewal. We need to give ourselves some time", says the coach. The next step will be played in June with two new friendly matches to consolidate the tactical bases, before the 'real' test of September and the AFCON 2027 qualifiers. For now, the Togolese public has again reasons to believe in its Sparrows. «I believe in it, the players also believe in it», concludes Patrice Neveu. The message has been passed.