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Togo’s Hawks fly past Zambia
Accra, May 31, Ghanadot/GNA –
Togo’s Hawks launched their campaign to the 2010 World Cup
and African Cup of Nations on a bright note with a lone goal
victory over the Chipolopolo of Zambia in a Group 11 clash
at the Ohene Djan Stadium on Saturday.
The Hawks, who played in Accra due to a three-match home ban
secured victory thanks to Olufade Adekanmi’s 16th minute
strike.
The result rests the Togolese at the pinnacle of Group 11
with three points as the other member of the group,
Swaziland had an off day.
Togo led by Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor will start on
an impressive note with the England-based player creating
anxious moments for the Zambian rearguard any time he
possessed the ball.
On one of such runs on 11 minutes, Adebayor raced past
William Chinyama before laying a perfect cross, but the
absence of a Togolese player in the box to tap in let the
visitors off the hook.
Five minutes later, Olufade broke the deadlock by finishing
off a three-man move involving Eric Akoto and Adebayor.
Ghanaian-born midfielder Akoto took the ball from the
middle, raced past his marker and back-heeled to Adebayor
who located Olufade. The Belgium based striker shot past
Zambia goalie Kennedy Mweene for the opener..
Zambia responded positively with persistent raids into the
Togolese half, and it nearly paid off on the half hour mark
as speedster Clifford Mulenga struck the cross bar after
Isaac Chansa had put him through.
The Hawks almost doubled their lead on 40 minutes but Komla
Amewou, who had replaced Akoto five minutes earlier, saw his
thunderbolt from a free-kick dealt with decently by Mweene.
Zambia coach Herve Renard introduced Emmanuel Mayoka for
Rodger Kola on resumption of the second half, and the latter
brought some bite into their attack.
Mulenga, who remained a nuisance to the Togolese defence
throughout the game, came close to drawing parity for the
Chipolopolo in the 60th and 68th minutes, but his goal bound
efforts were deflected off target by Kakla Eninful and
Nibombe Dare respectively.
Zambia had the upper hand for the greater part of the second
half but inaccurate shooting robbed them of an equalizer.
Their plight was further worsened after Burkinabe referee
Pare Lassina disallowed a seemingly perfect goal scored by
Felix Katongo on the stroke of full time for offside
positioning.
Zambia next plays Swaziland in Mbabane next month of the
group, which will see only team progressing to the second
round of the qualifiers.
Togo:
Cedric Mensah, Dare Nibombe, Yao Senaya, Adebayor Emmanuel,
Tchangai Massamasso/Moumouni Abdoul Djabaro, Enninful Kakla,
Robert Malm/Yao Senaya Junior, Eric Akoto/Komla Amewou,
Olufade Adekanmi, Romao Alexys, Mamar Gafar
Zambia:
Kennedy Mweene, William Chinyama, Chintu Kapamba, Billy
Mwanza, Joseph Musonda, Francis Kasonde/James Chamanga,
Christopher Katongo, Felix Katongo, Isaac Chansa, Rodger
Kola/Emmanuel Mayoka, Clifford Mulenga.
GNA
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