Supporters of the Togolese national football team, the Hawks, attempted to stage a sit-in on Saturday, April 6, to demand the departure of head coach Claude Le Roy, whose tenure has been widely criticized following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. The demonstration, organized by the Martin Luther King Movement (MMLK), had initially received authorization from the Ministry of Territorial Administration, but ultimately ended in dispersal by law enforcement authorities.
The protest began peacefully in front of the Lomé municipal stadium, drawing a significant number of Togolese football fans who voiced their frustration over Le Roy’s leadership. Chanting slogans such as “Claude Le Roy resign” and “Claude Le Roy leave,” the supporters expressed their dissatisfaction with a coach whose record with the Hawks has been deemed “disastrous” by many. Since his appointment in 2016, Le Roy was tasked with revitalizing Togolese football and ensuring qualification for major tournaments, including the 2019 AFCON, a goal that remained unfulfilled.
However, tensions escalated when police accused the protesters of transforming the authorized sit-in into a march, a violation of the agreement with authorities. As a result, security forces intervened to disperse the crowd. During the dispersal, a journalist covering the event sustained injuries, highlighting the volatile nature of the confrontation.
The sit-in reflects deep-seated frustrations among Togolese fans, who have repeatedly criticized Le Roy for underwhelming results over the past three years. Despite the resources and support provided by the Togolese Football Federation, the Hawks managed only a single victory in the six matches of the 2019 AFCON qualifiers, ultimately finishing last in their group behind Algeria, Benin, and Gambia.
Le Roy had previously hinted that he would resign if the Hawks failed to qualify. Following the heavy home defeat against Algeria on November 18, 2018, he stated, “If we don’t qualify, it will obviously be the end of my Togolese adventure, since it will be the end of my contract. Logically, there won’t even be any going back on that.” Despite this, after Togo’s elimination by Benin on March 24, he appeared to change his stance, a move that has further fueled criticism and anger among supporters.
The events of Saturday underscore the pressure and scrutiny faced by national team coaches in Africa, where fan expectations are high and failures on the continental stage often provoke strong public reactions. For the Hawks, the controversy surrounding Le Roy’s tenure has overshadowed the team’s preparations for future competitions and placed the federation in a difficult position.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen whether the Togolese Football Federation will respond to the public outcry and take decisive action regarding the coach’s future. Meanwhile, supporters have made it clear that patience with Le Roy has run out, signaling the end of an era in Togo’s national football history unless swift changes are made.
