Nibombé Daré has been appointed as the new head coach of Togo’s national football team, the Éperviers, following the departure of Paulo Duarte. His appointment marks the first time in a decade that a Togolese national has taken the helm of the team. As Daré steps into this significant role, several critical challenges await him.
Daré’s appointment is historic, as he becomes the first Togolese coach to lead the national team in ten years.
The previous Togolese coach, Tchanilé Tchakala, was dismissed in 2014 after a brief six-month tenure. Since then, the team has been under the guidance of foreign coaches, including Claude Le Roy and Paulo Duarte.
The return to a local coach is seen as a move to reinvigorate national pride and leverage local expertise.
One of Daré’s immediate tasks will be assembling his technical staff. The former Togolese international was not in Lomé when news of his appointment broke, leading to heightened anticipation regarding his choices for the coaching team.
There are speculations that Daré might choose an expatriate assistant coach. However, there are also strong indications that he may appoint his former national teammate and captain, Abalo Dosseh, who previously coached the Togo B team under Claude Le Roy.
The composition of his staff will be closely watched and could significantly impact his success.
While the 2026 World Cup qualifiers are on hold, with Togo almost out of contention, the focus is now on the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025. Daré’s primary objective will be to secure Togo’s qualification for this tournament, a task made urgent by the team’s absence from the last three editions.
The qualifiers for AFCON 2025 will take place between September and November 2024, giving Daré limited time to prepare.
The initial phase of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers will be crucial for Daré. Togo’s campaign will begin with a home match against Liberia, considered a winnable fixture.
Following this, the team will travel to face Equatorial Guinea, who reached the quarter-finals of the last African competition in Ivory Coast.
These matches will serve as an early test of Daré’s tactical acumen and his ability to manage the squad inherited from Duarte.
Daré’s first competitive match will take place at the Stade de Kégué, where he will face intense scrutiny from Togolese fans.
The local supporters, who have largely welcomed his appointment, will be eager to see immediate results.
A strong performance in the initial qualifiers could set the tone for his tenure and help build momentum towards a successful campaign.
Nibombé Daré’s appointment as Togo’s national team coach brings with it high expectations and significant challenges.
From assembling a capable coaching staff to navigating the critical CAN 2025 qualifiers, Daré’s leadership will be pivotal in shaping the future of Togolese football.
As he prepares to lead the Éperviers, the nation watches with hope and anticipation, ready to support their new coach on this important journey.
