Togo Eliminated from AFCON 2015 as Ghana Seal Dominant 3-1 Win
Tamale, Ghana – 19 November 2014
Togo’s hopes of qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) were dashed on Wednesday afternoon as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Ghana in Tamale. Despite a promising start, the Togolese Hawks were ultimately outclassed by the Black Stars, who triumphed in style even without key players Asamoah Gyan and André Ayew.
The match got off to an ideal start for Togo, but their hopes were quickly crushed by a brilliant early goal from Ghana’s Abdul Majeed Waris, who found the net just before the 15-minute mark. The goal threw the Togolese off balance, and just moments later, Ghana doubled their lead with a superb lob from Mubarak Wakaso, leaving Togo’s goalkeeper Agassa Kossi with no chance.
Trailing 2-0, Togo faced an uphill battle, but they kept fighting and managed to reduce the deficit just two minutes into the second half. Prince Ségbéfia found the net for the Hawks, offering a glimmer of hope that a comeback was possible. However, the Togolese were unable to maintain their momentum and ultimately paid the price for defensive lapses.
In the 57th minute, Togo’s own Sadate Ouro-Akoriko inadvertently turned a cross from Ghana’s Emmanuel Badu into his own net, handing Ghana a decisive 3-1 lead. With no way back, Togo’s fate was sealed, and they were condemned to watch the AFCON from home.
The result means that Togo will miss out on the tournament in Equatorial Guinea, a bitter blow for coach Tchanilé Tchakalé and star striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who were hoping to lead their nation to the continental showpiece.
In the same group, Guinea secured their qualification with a 2-0 victory over Uganda, ensuring they will join Ghana in the 2015 AFCON finals. The final spots from Group E have now been settled, with Ghana and Guinea heading to Equatorial Guinea in January 2015, while Togo and Uganda are left to reflect on missed opportunities.
For Togo, the 2015 AFCON will be a tournament they watch from home, as their dreams of continental glory were dashed by a clinical Ghanaian performance.
