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Togo national football team facts for kids

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This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Togo women's national football team.
Quick facts for kids
Togo
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Les Éperviers
(The Sparrowhawks)
Association Fédération Togolaise de Football (FTF)
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation WAFU (West Africa)
Head coach Dare Nibombe
Captain Djené
Most caps Abdoul-Gafar Mamah, Alaixys Romao (93)
Top scorer Emmanuel Adebayor (32)
Home stadium Stade de Kégué
FIFA code TOG
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 122 Increase 1 (7 February 2019)
Highest 46 (August 2006)
Lowest 133 (April 2021)
Elo ranking
Current 114 Decrease 3 (3 March 2019)
Highest 56 (November 2005, January 2006)
Lowest 128 (4 September 1994)
First international
France French Togoland 1–1 Gold Coast and Trans-Volta Togoland 
(French Togoland; 13 October 1956)
Biggest win
 Togo 6–0 Swaziland 
(Accra, Ghana; 11 November 2008)
 Togo 6–0 Mauritius 
(Lomé, Togo; 12 November 2017)
Biggest defeat
 Morocco 7–0 Togo 
(Morocco; 28 October 1979)
 Tunisia 7–0 Togo 
(Tunis, Tunisia; 7 January 2000)
World Cup
Appearances 1 (first in 2006)
Best result Group stage (2006)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances 8 (first in 1972)
Best result Quarter-finals (2013)

The Togo national football team, also known as Les Éperviers (The Sparrowhawks), represents the country of Togo in international football games. The team is managed by the Togolese Football Federation.

Togo's national football team made its first appearance in the FIFA World Cup in 2006. In 2013, the team reached the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time ever. The team plays under the rules of both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

History of Togo's Football Team

Togo-nationalmannschaft
Members of the Togolese national football team before a warm-up match in Biberach/Riss a few days before the 2006 World Cup

Before Togo became an independent country in 1960, the team was known as French Togoland. They worked hard to become a strong team in Africa.

Togo's First World Cup: 2006

Togo made history by playing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup for the first time. Stephen Keshi coached the team during the qualifying games. At the World Cup itself, German coach Otto Pfister led the team.

In their first World Cup game, Togo played against South Korea. Togo scored first with a goal from Mohamed Kader. However, South Korea came back to win 2-1.

Togo's next game was against Switzerland. The team faced some challenges before the match. Despite this, they played, but lost 2-0. Togo's final group game was against France, which they also lost 2-0. Even though they didn't win, playing in the World Cup was a huge step for Togo.

Tragic Helicopter Accident in 2007

After a football game in Sierra Leone in June 2007, a helicopter carrying sports officials from Togo crashed. Sadly, 20 people died, including Togo's Sports Minister, Richard Attipoe. No players from the national team were on that helicopter. The team was waiting for a later flight.

Bus Attack and Ban in 2010

In January 2010, something very serious happened. The Togo team bus was attacked by gunmen while traveling to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations tournament. This attack was very sad, and some people died or were injured. The team decided to leave the tournament because of this terrible event.

After the team withdrew, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) banned Togo from playing in the next two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. They also fined the team. This decision made many people upset, including the players. Togo's government said they would fight the ban. Later, FIFA helped to lift the ban completely.

Because of these events, star player Emmanuel Adebayor first announced he would stop playing for the national team. But he later changed his mind and returned to play for Togo in March 2011.

The Fake Togo Team Incident

In 2010, a strange event happened. A team claiming to be the Togo national team played a friendly match against Bahrain and lost 3-0. However, the real Togolese Football Federation said that this was a fake team! Togo's Sports Minister confirmed that no one in Togo knew about this game.

It was later discovered that a former Togo manager, Bana Tchanilé, was behind this trick. He was banned from football for several years. This incident was part of a bigger problem of match-fixing in football.

Trying for the 2014 World Cup

Togo started playing qualification games for the 2014 World Cup in November 2011. They played many matches against other African teams. Despite their efforts and some wins, Togo did not qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Recent Matches and Results

Here are some of the recent games the Togo national football team has played.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2023 Matches

2024 Matches

Meet the Coaches of Togo Football

Many coaches have led the Togo national football team over the years. They help the players get better and plan strategies for games.

  • Jean Robin (1965)
  • Gottlieb Göller (1970–1974, 1984, 1996–1997, 1998–2000)
  • Boško Antić (1987–1989)
  • Julien Dovi Aguiar (1992)
  • Baboima Ergot (1993)
  • Paul Messan Zougbédé (1997)
  • Eberhard Vogel (1997–1998)
  • Kodjovi Mawuéna (2000)
  • Bana Tchanile (2000–2002)
  • Diego Garzitto (2002)
  • Antônio Dumas (2002–2004)
  • Stephen Keshi (2004–2006, 2007–2008, 2011)
  • Otto Pfister (2006)
  • Henri Stambouli (2008)
  • Kodjovi Mawuéna (2008–2009)
  • Jean Thissen (2009)
  • Hubert Velud (2009–2010)
  • Thierry Froger (2010–2011)
  • Didier Six (2011–2014)
  • Tchakala Tchanilé (2014)
  • Tom Saintfiet (2015–2016)
  • Claude Le Roy (2016–2021)
  • Jonas Komla (2021)
  • Paulo Duarte (2021–2024)
  • Charles Akonnor (2024–present)

Togo's Football Players

Here are the players who are currently part of the Togo national football team. These players were chosen for recent important matches.

The numbers for games played (caps) and goals scored are correct as of September 9, 2024.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Malcolm Barcola (1999-05-14) 14 May 1999 (age 26) 20 0 Portugal Paços de Ferreira
1GK Wassiou Ouro-Gneni (1997-02-14) 14 February 1997 (age 28) 9 0 Benin Dynamo Abomey FC
1GK Geoffrey Agbolossou (2000-02-25) 25 February 2000 (age 25) 2 0 France FC Balagne
2DF Djené (1991-12-31) 31 December 1991 (age 33) 78 0 Spain Getafe
2DF Loïc Bessilé (1999-02-19) 19 February 1999 (age 26) 16 0 France Dunkerque
2DF Youssifou Atté (1996-05-16) 16 May 1996 (age 29) 13 0 Ivory Coast ASEC Mimosas
2DF Mawouna Amevor (1991-12-16) 16 December 1991 (age 33) 10 0 Netherlands Volendam
2DF Kennedy Boateng (1996-11-29) 29 November 1996 (age 28) 7 0 Romania Dinamo București
2DF Gustave Akueson (1995-12-20) 20 December 1995 (age 29) 4 0 France Bastia
2DF Sadik Fofana (2003-05-16) 16 May 2003 (age 22) 2 0 Germany Bayer Leverkusen
2DF Josué Homawoo (1997-11-12) 12 November 1997 (age 27) 1 0 Romania Dinamo București
3MF Alaixys Romao (1984-01-18) 18 January 1984 (age 41) 87 0 Greece Athens Kallithea
3MF Marouf Tchakei (1995-12-15) 15 December 1995 (age 29) 31 3 Tanzania Singida Fountain Gate
3MF Karim Dermane (2003-12-26) 26 December 2003 (age 21) 16 3 Belgium Lommel
3MF Roger Aholou (1993-12-30) 30 December 1993 (age 31) 16 1 Tunisia Espérance Sportive de Tunis
3MF Thibault Klidjé (2001-07-10) 10 July 2001 (age 23) 12 0 Switzerland Luzern
3MF Kodjo Aziangbe (2003-12-14) 14 December 2003 (age 21) 9 0 Japan Yokohama F. Marinos
3MF Khaled Narey (1994-07-23) 23 July 1994 (age 30) 6 1 Saudi Arabia Al-Khaleej
3MF Yawo Agbagno (2000-05-25) 25 May 2000 (age 25) 3 0 Algeria ASO Chlef
3MF Adil Titi (1999-08-20) 20 August 1999 (age 25) 1 0 Sweden IK Brage
4FW Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba (1992-01-27) 27 January 1992 (age 33) 51 20 United Arab Emirates Al Ain
4FW Kévin Denkey (2000-11-30) 30 November 2000 (age 24) 33 7 Belgium Cercle Brugge
4FW Yaw Annor (1997-12-03) 3 December 1997 (age 27) 6 0 Egypt National Bank of Egypt
4FW Etienne Amenyido (1998-03-01) 1 March 1998 (age 27) 3 0 Germany Preußen Münster
4FW Mansour Ouro-Tagba (2004-12-17) 17 December 2004 (age 20) 1 0 Germany Jahn Regensburg

Togo's Top Football Records

These tables show the players who have played the most games and scored the most goals for the Togo national team. Players whose names are in bold are still playing for Togo.

Most Games Played (Caps)

Abdoul Mamah Gafar 4156
Abdoul-Gafar Mamah is one of Togo's most experienced players, with 93 games played.
Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Abdoul-Gafar Mamah 93 0 2000–2016
Alaixys Romao 93 0 2005–present
3 Emmanuel Adebayor 88 32 2000–2019
4 Kossi Agassa 84 0 1998–2017
Djené Dakonam 84 0 2012–present
6 Moustapha Salifou 77 8 2000–2013
7 Jean-Paul Abalo 74 1 1992–2008
8 Komlan Améwou 69 5 2000–2015
9 Tadjou Salou 62 12 1992–2004
10 Serge Akakpo 61 2 2008–2017
Mohamed Kader 61 13 1995–2009

Top Goal Scorers

Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor is Togo's all-time leading scorer with 32 goals.
Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Emmanuel Adebayor (list) 32 88 0.36 2000–2019
2 Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba 20 52 0.38 2016–present
3 Kossi Noutsoudje 13 40 0.33 1994–2002
Mohamed Kader 13 61 0.21 1995–2009
5 Tadjou Salou 12 62 0.19 1992–2004
6 Floyd Ayité 11 48 0.23 2007–2022
7 Euloge Placca Fessou 9 36 0.25 2012–present
Adékambi Olufadé 9 41 0.22 1998–2010
9 Kévin Denkey 8 37 0.22 2018–present
Moustapha Salifou 8 77 0.1 2000–2013

Togo in Major Football Tournaments

Togo has competed in several big football tournaments. Here's how they've done:

FIFA World Cup Appearances

Togo has played in the FIFA World Cup once.

FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
1930 to 1958 Part of  France Part of  France
Chile 1962 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
England 1966 Did not enter Did not enter
Mexico 1970
West Germany 1974 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 0 4
Argentina 1978 4 1 1 2 3 5
Spain 1982 2 1 0 1 2 2
Mexico 1986 Withdrew Withdrew
Italy 1990
United States 1994 Did not qualify 5 0 0 5 2 11
France 1998 8 2 2 4 9 16
South Korea Japan 2002 10 3 4 3 13 13
Germany 2006 Group stage 30th 3 0 0 3 1 6 Squad 12 8 2 2 22 9
South Africa 2010 Did not qualify 10 4 2 4 11 10
Brazil 2014 8 2 2 4 6 12
Russia 2018 2 0 0 2 0 4
Qatar 2022 8 3 3 2 8 7
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined 4 0 3 1 2 3
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 To be determined
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total Group stage 1/15 3 0 0 3 1 6 — 74 24 18 32 78 96

Soccer Field Transparant.svg

Agassa
Abalo (c)
Nibombé
Tchangai
Amevou
Romao
Sènaya
Salifou
Kader
Touré
2006 FIFA World Cup starting lineup

Africa Cup of Nations History

Togo has played in the Africa Cup of Nations several times. Their best result was reaching the quarter-finals in 2013.

Africa Cup of Nations record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad
Sudan 1957 Part of  France
United Arab Republic 1959
Ethiopia 1962 Not affiliated to CAF
Ghana 1963
Tunisia 1965 Did not enter
Ethiopia 1968 Did not qualify
Sudan 1970
Cameroon 1972 Group stage 7th 3 0 2 1 4 6 Squad
Egypt 1974 Withdrew
Ethiopia 1976 Did not qualify
Ghana 1978
Nigeria 1980
Libya 1982
Ivory Coast 1984 Group stage 8th 3 0 1 2 1 7 Squad
Egypt 1986 Did not qualify
Morocco 1988
Algeria 1990 Withdrew
Senegal 1992 Did not qualify
Tunisia 1994 Withdrew during qualifying
South Africa 1996 Did not qualify
Burkina Faso 1998 Group stage 12th 3 1 0 2 4 6 Squad
Ghana Nigeria 2000 10th 3 1 1 1 2 3 Squad
Mali 2002 12th 3 0 2 1 0 3 Squad
Tunisia 2004 Did not qualify
Egypt 2006 Group stage 16th 3 0 0 3 2 7 Squad
Ghana 2008 Did not qualify
Angola 2010 Withdrew due to rebel attack
Equatorial Guinea Gabon 2012 Did not qualify
South Africa 2013 Quarter-finals 8th 4 1 1 2 4 4 Squad
Equatorial Guinea 2015 Did not qualify
Gabon 2017 Group stage 16th 3 0 1 2 2 6 Squad
Egypt 2019 Did not qualify
Cameroon 2021
Ivory Coast 2023
Morocco 2025
Kenya Tanzania Uganda 2027 To be determined
2029
Total Quarter-finals 8/34 25 3 8 14 19 42 —

African Nations Championship

Togo has also participated in the African Nations Championship.

African Nations Championship record
Appearances: 1
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Ivory Coast 2009 Did not qualify
Sudan 2011
South Africa 2014
Rwanda 2016
Morocco 2018
Cameroon 2020 Group stage 11th 3 1 0 2 4 5
Algeria 2022 Did not qualify
Total Group stage 1/7 3 1 0 2 4 5

African Games Football Record

Togo has also played in the African Games.

African Games record
Year Round Pld W D L GF GA
Republic of the Congo 1965 Group stage 3 1 1 1 5 9
Kenya 1987 Did not qualify
Total 1/4 3 1 1 1 5 9

Football Achievements and Honours

Togo's national team has achieved some success in regional tournaments.

Regional Competitions

  • West African Nations Cup
    • Runners-up (4 times): 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986
  • WAFU Nations Cup
    • Third place (1 time): 2013

Images for kids

  • Abdoul Mamah Gafar 4156

    Abdoul-Gafar Mamah is Togo's joint most capped player with 93 appearances.

  • Adebayor

    Emmanuel Adebayor is Togo's top scorer with 32 goals.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Togo para niños

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