Togo boss Patrice Neveu confirms changes for Zambia Africa Cup of Nations qualifier

Togo manager Patrice Neveu says he will make changes to his side for Tuesday’s Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifier against Zambia.

The Eperviers have travelled to Ndola for their second match in the qualifying campaign, with Neveu aiming to correct the mistakes made by his team and secure a positive result against the Chipolopolo.

Neveu made the announcement after Togo’s first training session in Zambia, where he said his players had responded well and remained focused on the task ahead.

The French coach believes the victory over Zambia has improved the squad’s confidence and praised the attitude shown during training.

“We have a very good state of mind. This afternoon, we had a very good training session. The players applied themselves well and were focused. There was quality,” Neveu told the Federation Togolaise de Football.

“A victory is always good for morale. We are away from home. We have to make our experience count when managing matches away from home.”

The Togo manager said Tuesday’s game would present a different challenge from Friday’s match against Burundi in Lome.

He highlighted the absence of Togo supporters, who he said had played an important role in motivating some of his players, as one factor that could affect the contest. Neveu also expects Zambia’s approach, particularly their fast starts, to influence the match.

“We will not have our supporters, who played an important role and motivated some players enormously. That support will not be there,” he said.

“There will be changes in the team to bring freshness. It is important to stay on the path towards the objective we have set ourselves. The Zambians are used to starting matches very quickly.”

Neveu’s changes are therefore expected to combine a desire for greater energy with the need to maintain the progress made by Togo. He said the squad must adapt to playing away from home and manage the match with the experience required in that environment.

Togo arrived in Ndola determined to build on its campaign, while Neveu stressed the importance of remaining focused on the objective set for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers.