Togo’s national football team remains focused on securing a spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following a challenging yet promising start to their qualifying campaign. Head coach Nibombé Daré expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance after a 2-2 draw against Equatorial Guinea in Malabo, marking his debut in charge of the Hawks.
Reflecting on the opening matches, Nibombé emphasized the team’s commitment to reaching the AFCON finals in Morocco.
“We are a team that wants to qualify for the AFCON. Getting a point here, in Equatorial Guinea, is very satisfying.
We will approach the next matches with the same seriousness and, with a little luck, we hope to secure our qualification for the final phase,” Nibombé remarked after the match.
The encounter in Malabo presented significant challenges for the Togolese side. Equatorial Guinea, a formidable opponent known for their impressive performances in previous tournaments, posed a stiff test.
Nibombé acknowledged the difficulties faced by his team, noting the strength and fluidity of their hosts. “Coming to play here, we knew it would be complicated. Equatorial Guinea showed very good things during the last AFCON. They are a formidable team with a moving game. We prepared well after the match against Liberia to achieve a good result in Malabo,” he explained.
Despite the positive outcome, Nibombé couldn’t hide his disappointment over the earlier 1-1 draw at home against Liberia, a result that left a bittersweet taste.
“We took a point here, but we have the feeling that we could have done better. The draw against Liberia at home remains a regret,” he admitted, highlighting the missed opportunity to secure three points in Lomé.
Analyzing the match in Malabo, Nibombé pointed out areas for improvement, particularly in the first half where Togo struggled to maintain possession and allowed Equatorial Guinea too much control.
“We gave them too much freedom. We were too far away from the ball carrier, which allowed them to dominate with strong possession,” Nibombé observed.
However, he praised his team’s response after the break, where they managed to limit the opposition’s chances by tightening their defensive organization and closing down space more effectively.
Looking ahead, the Togolese coach stressed the importance of converting scoring opportunities, a factor that could be decisive in their quest for AFCON qualification.
“We had chances, but we need to convert them to perform better in the coming matches.
The number of opportunities against Liberia and Equatorial Guinea is a positive point, but we still need to improve,” Nibombé stated.
As Togo prepares to continue their qualifying campaign in October against Algeria, the Hawks are determined to build on their early momentum.
With Nibombé at the helm, the team remains optimistic about their chances of making the trip to Morocco in 2025, aiming to stay firmly in the race for qualification.
