AFCON 2015 Qualifiers: Togo Left Disappointed After Opening Day Defeat to Guinea
Togo’s return to competitive international football ended in disappointment as they suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Guinea on the opening day of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The loss left fans frustrated and the players visibly disheartened, especially defender Serge Akakpo, who expressed deep regret following the match.
“We would have preferred to offer victory to all Togolese people and all our supporters for this reunion a year later, but fate decided otherwise,” Akakpo said in a message shared after the match. “Believe me, I am the first to be saddened by this defeat… But rest assured, the objective remains the same and we will do everything to raise our heads at the next opportunity.”
The match marked Togo’s return to the Stade de Kégué after a long absence from competitive fixtures. Despite the presence of star striker Emmanuel Adebayor, the Sparrowhawks were unable to make their home advantage count, falling short against a well-organised Guinea side led by Michel Dussuyer.
Togo will now have little time to recover before their next match—a tough test against Ghana on Wednesday. With Group E shaping up to be highly competitive, Akakpo and his teammates will be under pressure to bounce back quickly and keep their hopes of qualification alive.
The team and fans alike will be hoping for a strong reaction from the players in Lomé midweek, as they aim to get their campaign back on track.
