Togo Set to Announce New Head Coach Amid Saintfiet–Neveu Duel
After four months without a head coach, Togo’s national football team is finally poised to appoint a new boss by the end of this week, with Tom Saintfiet and Patrice Neveu emerging as the two leading contenders.
The position has remained vacant since the departure of Tchakala Tchanilé, whose tenure ended following Togo’s failure to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. With the 2017 AFCON qualifiers approaching fast — the Hawks kick off against Liberia on June 14 — the Togolese Football Federation (FTF) is under pressure to name a successor capable of leading the team, including talismanic captain Emmanuel Adebayor, back to continental relevance.
Among the frontrunners is Tom Saintfiet, the well-travelled Belgian coach who already appears to have made a mark. Saintfiet was involved in organizing Togo’s friendly against Mauritius on March 28 (1–1), a match seen by many as a trial run for his candidacy. His extensive experience across Africa, having previously managed Namibia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, has positioned him as the favorite — at least until now.
However, competition is heating up.
French coach Patrice Neveu, who has helmed Guinea, DR Congo, and Mauritania, has also thrown his hat into the ring. According to a source close to the former Ismaily SC boss, discussions with the FTF have been encouraging:
“We’ve had positive contacts with the federation officials. Coach Neveu enjoys good press and is favored for his African experience,” a representative told reporters.
With the FTF yet to officially comment on the final shortlist, it remains unclear whether either man has secured the definitive edge. Still, a decision is imminent, and both camps remain confident of being chosen to lead Togo into its 2017 AFCON qualifying campaign in Group A, alongside Tunisia, Liberia, and Djibouti.
For a team in need of structure, belief, and results, the announcement — expected within days — could mark a turning point.
