Togo vs Guinea: No Room for Error in Crucial CAN 2015 Qualifier
Lomé – 16 November 2014, 3:00 p.m. UTC
The stakes could not be higher this afternoon as Togo hosts Guinea at the Stade de Kégué in a must-win fixture on Matchday 5 of the Africa Cup of Nations 2015 qualifiers. A win for the Hawks, paired with a favorable result for Ghana in Kampala, would edge Togo closer to qualification for the tournament in Equatorial Guinea.
However, coach Tchanilé Tchakala must navigate this pivotal clash without his midfield anchor Alaixys Romao, who is suspended due to a yellow card accumulation. Speaking after Thursday’s training session, Tchakala remained confident:
“We have versatile players and we will put in place a system to compensate for Romao’s absence.”
The first meeting between the two sides saw Guinea defeat Togo in Casablanca during the group opener. But the Hawks believe that home advantage and growing cohesion will tilt the balance this time.
“We know the Guinean team well. We are calm and determined to win the three points,” the coach assured.
Group E Standings Before Matchday 5:
Ghana – 8 pts
Togo – 6 pts
Guinea – 4 pts
Uganda – 4 pts
With the top two qualifying directly, Togo’s mission is clear: win and hope that Ghana avoids defeat in Uganda. A draw between Ghana and Uganda, coupled with a Togo victory, would even guarantee both West African nations a ticket to the final tournament.
Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. UTC in what promises to be a tense and emotionally charged afternoon in Lomé.
