Togo v Burundi: Vincent Bossou says three points are essential in CAN 2027 opener

The Togo national team begin their CAN 2027 qualifying campaign against Burundi on Friday, 25 September, with former international Vincent Bossou stressing the importance of securing an immediate home victory.

The Eperviers host Burundi at Stade de Kegue in the opening round of Group I, which also contains Algeria and Zambia. Togo’s priority is to take advantage of home conditions and make a winning start to their qualification campaign.

Speaking to Africafoot before the match, Bossou underlined the need for Togo to collect all three points. The former defender believes a positive result in the opening fixture would establish a strong foundation for the matches that follow.

Bossou also warned Togo not to underestimate the Burundi side, pointing to the collective qualities within the visiting squad. He said most of Burundi’s players compete in major African leagues, giving the team experience and a strong physical base.

The 40-year-old former defender does not identify a standout individual as the main threat. Instead, he describes Burundi as a team whose strength lies in its collective organisation and physical potential.

That assessment has also shaped Bossou’s view of how Togo should approach the game. He warned that the hosts could face difficulties if they allow Burundi to dictate the tempo, settle into a compact block and impose a physically demanding style.

Togo will therefore need to prevent their opponents from controlling the rhythm of the match. Bossou’s analysis suggests that disrupting Burundi’s structure and avoiding a prolonged physical contest will be key to the home side’s chances.

Despite the importance of producing a convincing performance, Bossou said the result must remain the main consideration. In his view, winning the three points is more important than the quality of the football displayed, as a failure to do so could leave Togo facing difficult calculations in the subsequent rounds of qualification.

The match at Stade de Kegue is Togo’s first fixture in the CAN 2027 qualifiers, while Burundi will also begin their Group I campaign with the meeting in Lome.