Togo’s qualification hopes and Daré Nibombé’s future on the line

With just two days remaining before the conclusion of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers, Togo’s national team coach, Daré Nibombé, finds himself facing a crucial crossroads. The outcome of the next two matches will determine not only his future but also the Eperviers’ chances of qualifying for the tournament. A failure to secure qualification for a fourth consecutive Africa Cup of Nations could bring Nibombé’s tenure to an abrupt end, only three months after his appointment.

Togo’s national team, absent from the final stages of the Africa Cup of Nations since 2017, has struggled to live up to expectations under Nibombé’s guidance.

Ahead of their final qualifiers against Liberia on November 13 in Monrovia and Equatorial Guinea on November 17, the coach is preparing for all possible outcomes—whether continuing his role or facing the prospect of parting ways with the national team.

Upon his appointment in August, Nibombé made bold statements about his aspirations for Togo, setting high standards for both the team and himself.

The objective is to put Togo back on the roof of Africa or even the world, and it is simply to qualify for AFCON 2025,” he declared.

He reaffirmed these words a few weeks later, stressing that qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations was the primary goal.

His ambitions were clear, but the results have not reflected the optimism surrounding his appointment.

Since taking the helm, Nibombé has overseen a mixed record of two draws and two losses in the qualifiers.

His tactical decisions, including the positioning of key players such as captain Dakonam Djené, have raised concerns.

Djené has at times been moved from his central defensive role to the right, a decision that has sparked criticism from those questioning Nibombé’s suitability for the job.

The team’s performances have been lackluster, adding to the pressure on the coach as Togo’s qualification hopes hang in the balance.

As the final games of the qualification campaign approach, Togo’s supporters are increasingly anxious, with many fearing the possibility of missing out on the 2025 tournament.

Some believe that if the team fails to qualify, Nibombé may have to be dismissed.

However, the coach remains resolute in his belief that Togo can still secure the necessary points.

My ambitions have not changed. We will take stock after the two matches.

I think that mathematically, there are still points to defend, and we will go and get them,” he said last October after a disappointing defeat to Algeria.

If we keep the same state of mind and the same production of play, there is a way to go and get a result in Monrovia before receiving Equatorial Guinea in Lomé.”

For Nibombé, the upcoming qualifiers are his team’s last chance to prove they have the strength to qualify, and his future will depend on how they perform in these pivotal matches.

With the pressure mounting, the Eperviers’ fate—and his own—could be decided within the next week.