Togo’s national football team is gearing up for a crucial double-header against Benin in the CHAN 2024 qualifiers, with head coach Kader Coubadja highlighting the team’s unity as their key strength.
The first leg of the qualifier will take place on Friday, 25 October 2024, at Lomé’s Stade de Kégué, with the match kicking off at 16:00 GMT.
The return leg is scheduled for Saturday, 2 November 2024, at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, starting at 17:00 GMT.
Coubadja, speaking ahead of the encounters, emphasized that the strong bond among the players, many of whom come from the same domestic clubs, could give Togo a critical advantage over their Beninese counterparts.
“We are fortunate to have most of our players from ASKO and ASCK, who have recently competed at the continental level.
These are young players who know each other well and can apply physical intensity to unsettle the opposition, just like Benin,” said Coubadja.
The coach believes that the familiarity among his squad members, forged through their shared experiences at the club level, will contribute to their ability to execute a cohesive and physically robust style of play in their upcoming qualifiers.
ASKO and ASCK, two of Togo’s top clubs, have provided the backbone of the national squad, and their players’ recent involvement in continental competitions has prepared them for the high-stakes atmosphere of international football.
Despite this confidence, Coubadja is fully aware of the challenges that lie ahead. “Training is one thing, the match is another,” he noted, acknowledging that preparation on the training ground does not always translate directly to match-day performance.
“We know each other, and they know how we play, just as we know how they play. Our goal is to win, just like them, but we will do everything to get the best possible result.”
He also stressed that while training has been encouraging, the final team selection will depend on the players’ form leading up to the match.
“The national team is about players who are in form at the moment. A lot can happen in a day, and on the field, it’s the performances that determine our choices.
Those who show the most in training will be the ones who will play,” concluded Coubadja.
Togo will be looking to secure a strong result at home before traveling to Côte d’Ivoire for the decisive second leg, where they hope to advance further in their campaign for a spot in the CHAN 2024 tournament.
Both teams are expected to put up a strong fight, as they vie for the opportunity to represent their nations on the continental stage.
CHAN 2024 (Q) | Kader Coubadja confiant avant le choc Togo vs Bénin et appelle à un soutien massif des supporters
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— FTF-Fédération Togolaise de Football (@FtfTogolaise) October 20, 2024
