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Soccer News of Thursday, 10 August 2006

Source: Ibrahim Sannie

Togo gets Ready For Ghana Game

Coach Pfister revamps Togo squad
Togo coach Otto Pfister has dropped more than half his World Cup squad for next Tuesday's friendly against Ghana in London.

The German has revamped his squad as he prepares for next month's 2008 African Nations Cup qualifying campaign.

Defenders Eric Akoto, Yaw Aziawonou and midfielder Cherif Toure Maman are some of the higher profile players among the 12 World Cup players excluded from the squad.

However, Pfister has retained the forward line he used in Germany, including Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor.

Highly-rated goalkeeper Kossi Agassa and veteran captain Abalo Dosseh were also named in Pfister's 23-man squad.

Moldova-based defenders Kwami Kacla Eninful and Abdoul Gaffar Mamah were given their first national team call-ups, as were five local players.

"After the World Cup we realised some weakness in the team and we want to rectify it before the qualifiers," Togo FA technical director Camelio Akussah told BBC Sport.

"The new faces in the squad are being given the chance to justify their inclusion in the squad.

"Those who have been left out of the squad have not been completely ruled out as they will be monitored for future matches."

Togo open their Nations Cup qualifying campaign on 3 September when they host Benin in Lome in a Group 9 encounter.

The Hawks also face Sierra Leone and Mali in the group.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Kossi Agassa (Alicante, Spain), Pedomey Juvenal (EU FC, France), Abdoul Nassirou Omourou (Togo Port)

Defenders: Yaovi Dosseh Abalo (Apoel, Cyprus), Dare Nibombe (Mons, Belgium), Richmond Forson (J.A. Poire, France), Zakari Sahnoun (Istres, France), Kwami Kacla Eninful ( Sheriff, Moldova), Abdoul Gaffar Mamah (Sheriff, Moldova), Adado Paul (Pas Giannini, Greece), Abass Ouro-Tagba (Asko)

Midfielders: Didier Paas (Hibernians, Scotland) Balogou Mini (Lorient, France) Thomas Dossevi (Valencien, France), Alexis Romao (CS Louhans Cuiseaux, France), Yao Junior Senaya (YF Juventus, Switzerland), Kassim Guyazou (Etoile Filante), Komla Amewou (Agaza) Senam Langueh (Namur, Belgium)

Forwards: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal, England), Robert Malm (Brest, France), Abdel-Kader Cougbadja (Guingamp, France), Moustapha Salifou (Brest, France)