International Football

Nigeria Face Togo After 26 Years

Published

7 years ago

May 31, 2017

BY KUNLE SOLAJA

When the Super Eagles of Nigeria file out on Thursday at Stade Municipal de Saint Leu Lat Foret in Paris to face the Hawks of Togo, it will be the first encounter in 26 years for the two countries that are almost within shouting distance of one another.
Sports Village Square recalls that both teams last met on January 27, 1991 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier which final event took place in Senegal the following year.
Already, the Super Eagles’ camp is bubbling with excitements and great expectations as the friendly encounter will be the last match before the crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifying duel with South Africa in Uyo.
“Tomorrow night, our @NGSuperEagles battle @LesEperviers of Togo in Paris #NGATOG #SoarSuperEagles #SuperEagles” a tweet from the NFF twitter handle gleefully announced.
The match kicks off at 7pm Nigerian time. Ahead of Thursday’s encounter, both Nigeria and Togo had met 16 times with the results swaying largely in the favour of the Super Eagles.
Nigeria had won eight of the encounters, drew five, including the last match and lost three. These statistics only speak a little about the encounters. The two of the three matches Nigeria lost to Togo had immense effects.
Sports Village Square recalls that despite the good run that the Nigerian team had while hosting the West African zonal qualifier for the first All Africa Games held in Congo Brazzaville, it was the 2-1 loss to Togo in the opening match on December 27, 1964 that eventually cost Nigeria a place at the All Africa Games.
The 6-1 defeat of Burkina Faso (then Upper Volta), 4-0 mauling of Niger Republic and the 1-1 draw in the abandoned match with Benin Republic (then Dahomey) all counted for nothing as Togo also beat all those countries to get the ticket for the football event of the All Africa Games.
The next loss was a 0-1 away loss to Togo which was reversed with a 4-2 win in the return leg for the 1968 Africa Nations Cup qualifier. But the last loss was a bashing.
A star-studded Nigerian side parading the likes of Stephen Keshi, Muda Lawal, Ademola Adeshina, Kingsley Paul among others, was left dazed after a 5-2 bashing by Togo in the semi-final of 1983 WAFU Cup.
It remained the heaviest defeat Nigeria suffered from any West African side apart from the pre-history 0-7 loss to Ghana (Gold Coast at the time) in 1955.
Togo was the third country Nigeria faced in an international match after that of Sierra Leone in 1949 and traditional rivals, Ghana (formerly Gold Coast).
Nigeria’s first encounter with the then Togoland was on October 6, 1956 and had the then Premier of Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in attendance. He came from Ibadan to watch the match which to most Nigerians was disappointing on account of the 1-1 draw and a foreign coach, Leslie Courtier handling Nigeria for the first time.

NIGERIA versus TOGO Head-to-Head

October 6, 1956: Nigeria 1-1 Togo (Lagos, Friendly)
December 29, 1964: Nigeria 1-2 Togo (Lagos, All-Africa Games Qualifier)
March 6, 1966: Nigeria 1-0 Togo (Lagos, Friendly)
April 9, 1966: Nigeria 1-0 Togo (Lagos Friendly)
April 2, 1967: Togo 1-0 Nigeria (Lome, Afcon Qualifier)
April 15, 1967: Nigeria 4-2 Togo (Lagos, Afcon Qualifier)
April 23 1975: Togo 0-1 Nigeria (Dakar, Friendly)
June 13, 1980: Togo 0-1 Nigeria (Lome, Friendly)
July 9, 1983: Nigeria 2-1 Togo (Ibadan, Olympics Qualifier)
July 27, 1983: Togo 1-1 Nigeria (Lome, Olympics Qualifier)
December 16, 1983: Togo 5-2 Nigeria (Abidjan, WAFU Cup)
July 29, 1986: Togo 2-2 Nigeria (Lome, Friendly)
March 18, 1987: Nigeria 2-0 Togo (Lagos, Afcon Qualifier)
April 2, 1987: Togo 1-1 Nigeria (Lome, Afcon Qualifier)
August 18, 1990: Nigeria 3-0 Togo (Lagos, Afcon Qualifier)
January 27, 1991: Togo 0-0 Nigeria (Lome, Afcon Qualifier)

International Football

Two Moroccan football players lost at sea, says club official

Published

3 weeks ago

July 8, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Abdellatif Akhrif, IRT player reported missing off the coast of M'diq this Saturday, July 6, 2024. © COPYRIGHT: IRT

Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.

They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.

“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.

The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.

While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.

Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.

-Reuters

International Football

FIFA launches ‘Football Manager’ World Cup with $100,000 in prize money

Published

4 weeks ago

June 27, 2024

Kunle Solaja

FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development and former soccer manager Arsene Wenger speaks during the 74th FIFA Congress at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, in Bangkok, Thailand, May 17, 2024. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo

FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.

FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.

Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.

“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.

“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”

FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.

Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.

-Reuters

International Football

Former Italy international Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint

Published

1 month ago

June 21, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.

Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.

“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.

Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.

After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.

Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.

-Reuters