In an electrifying atmosphere at Lomé’s municipal stadium, the young Sparrowhawks kicked off the President Cup 2014, an U17 tournament commemorating Togo’s independence day, with a spectacular performance. Their opening match was against Benin.
The cadet Sparrowhawks wasted no time asserting their dominance, as Victor Mensah found the back of the net in just the 5th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse from the Squirrels. Continuing their relentless pressure, Togo doubled their lead in the 11th minute through Mouktar Oukpedjo. Despite Benin’s efforts to regain control, their attacks lacked the finishing touch.
After the halftime break, the pattern of the game remained unchanged, with Benin enjoying more possession but struggling to convert their chances. Togo, meanwhile, defended resolutely and remained a threat on the counter. In the dying moments of the match, Semiou Odjetanyi managed to pull one back for Benin in the 94th minute, but it proved to be too little, too late. The final score stood at 2-1 in favor of Togo.
Tags: Benin, Victor Mensah, Mouktar Oukpedjo, Semiou Odjetanyi, President Cup, Togo, UFOAB, football
