Togo’s U20 Team Faces Uphill Battle After Defeat to Morocco in Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers
Togo’s U20 team finds itself in a precarious position following a 2-0 loss to Morocco’s U20 side in the first leg of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The Junior Hawks now face an uphill battle to qualify for the third and final round of the competition, with the return leg scheduled for May 25 in Morocco.
The first leg, played in Togo, was officiated by a Tunisian referee quartet, but the second leg will see a new set of officials from Nigeria. The central referee for the upcoming match will be Ferdinand Udoh Aniete, with Temitope Orowole Azeez and Robert Aundugh serving as the first and second assistants, respectively. Benjamin Ekabatiem will act as the table referee, while Mauritania’s Massa Diarra will oversee the match as the commissioner.
Togolese supporters were not pleased with the officiating in the first leg, particularly regarding the penalty awarded to Morocco for their second goal, which sparked significant controversy. The public’s dissatisfaction with the decisions made by the Tunisian referees has added to the pressure on Togo’s U20 team as they prepare for the crucial return leg in Morocco.
With the qualification race now hanging in the balance, the Junior Hawks will need a strong performance in the second leg to keep their hopes of advancing alive.
