2017 AFCON Qualifiers: Togo Visit Djibouti as Group A Action Resumes
The second matchday of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers kicks off this Friday, with a single fixture on the schedule. Djibouti will host Togo in Group A at 1 p.m. GMT, with the visiting Hawks looking to seize top spot—at least temporarily.
After a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Liberia on the opening day in June, Togo arrive in Djibouti City with confidence, though not without key absences. Emmanuel Adebayor, scorer of the late winner against Liberia, will miss the match due to personal reasons. The team will also be without veterans Kossi Agassa and Floyd Ayité Gakpé, both ruled out through injury.
Despite these absences, head coach Tom Saintfiet remains optimistic. With a deep squad and momentum on their side, the Togolese will look to maintain their winning start against a side ranked among the continent’s weakest.
Hosts Djibouti, nicknamed the Red Sea Sharks, are still reeling from their 8-1 thrashing by Tunisia on matchday one. But now back on home soil, and with expected temperatures soaring to 40°C, the East African side hope to exploit the conditions and the support of a passionate home crowd.
While few expect Djibouti to pull off an upset, the extreme heat could level the playing field and test Togo’s endurance in the midday fixture.
A win for Togo would give them six points from two matches, piling pressure on group rivals Tunisia and Liberia, who play their second fixtures later this weekend.
