Togo Nears Appointment of New National Team Coach Following High-Level Government Meeting
The process to appoint the next head coach of Togo’s national football team has entered its final phase following a decisive meeting held on Friday at the Prime Minister’s office in Lomé. Present at the meeting were key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Sports, the Togolese Football Federation (FTF), and several government ministers.
According to Africa Top Sports, Prime Minister Arthème Ahoomey-Zunu chaired the meeting after returning from a trip to France. The gathering aimed to break the deadlock in the selection process, which had faced delays and internal disputes over the evaluation of candidates.
After hearing from all parties involved, the government resolved to move forward using the original shortlist compiled by the joint technical committee in Notsè. However, a newly formed evaluation panel will now oversee the final stage of the selection. This new committee will consist of ministers from the portfolios of Sport, Finance, Labour, and Civil Service, three representatives from the FTF, and a resource person, Elitsa Lanou. The Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister will also take part in the interviews.
A point of contention in previous deliberations—the validity of recorded interviews—will be revisited, as FTF president Gabriel Améyi has raised concerns over their authenticity. Despite these issues, the final decision is expected by June 3.
One notable omission from the final shortlist is Hubert Velud, who was initially a strong contender but has since extended his contract with Algerian club USM Alger, fresh off their domestic title win.
Remaining in the race for the Togo job are:
Didier Six, former coach of Togo and several African national teams;
Abalo Dosseh, a former Togo international and interim coach;
Tom Saintfiet, an experienced Belgian coach with several African stints;
Tchanilé Tchakala, another former Togo coach familiar with the local football landscape.
Sources at the meeting told Koaci.com that Prime Minister Ahoomey-Zunu emphasized moral integrity as a key criterion in the final selection process. “The Prime Minister particularly insisted on the integrity of the coach,” one participant revealed.
The new coach will be tasked with rebuilding the national team and restoring confidence among fans following years of instability and inconsistent performances.
