Togo Without Serge Gakpé and Matthieu Dossevi for Crucial Ghana Clash
Togo faces a setback ahead of their crucial 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Ghana on Wednesday, as midfielder Serge Gakpé will be sidelined due to injury.
The FC Nantes player sustained a shin injury during training on Monday at Lomé’s Kégué Stadium, after an unfortunate collision with a sprinkler system installed on the pitch. This incident rules Gakpé out of the pivotal encounter against the Black Stars.
Adding to Togo’s woes, Matthieu Dossevi remains unavailable due to administrative delays preventing him from securing the necessary paperwork to represent the national team. Dossevi was also absent during Togo’s opening qualifier against Guinea for the same reason.
Expressing his frustration with the ongoing bureaucratic hurdles, Dossevi tweeted last Thursday: “Rhaaaa… the good old Togolese journeys! lol… patience is the key word! #bettertolaugh.”
After Togo’s narrow 2-1 defeat to Guinea, Dossevi had hoped to make his debut in front of the home crowd against Ghana, saying, “Sad not to have been able to help the team tonight… I hope that will be the case on Wednesday for the reception of Ghana.” However, it now appears he will have to wait until October for his first cap.
Togo’s midfield will thus be without two key players as they face a daunting challenge against a Ghana side eager to bounce back from a disappointing draw in their opening qualifier.
The absence of Gakpé and Dossevi puts additional pressure on coach Claude Le Roy’s squad to perform against one of Africa’s stronger teams in what promises to be a tense and tightly contested match.
