Captain Emmanuel Adebayor has been omitted from by Hawks coach Claude Le Roy in his provisional squad for next month’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Comoros.
Le Roy left out the former Arsenal and Tottenham forward after naming his 23-man squad to face Comoros in the preliminary round double-header that takes place in Moroni on 6 September and in Lome four days later.
The Frenchman is reportedly not yet convinced with Adebayor’s performance, earlier saying that the striker should prove himself by finding a new club after leaving Istanbul Basaksehir.
One of the Togolese technical staff who spoke to Ducor Sports on condition of anonymity said that the door remained open to welcome new players.
“People should understand that this squad is for the Comoros match, and if we make to the next round of the qualifiers everyone has a chance (to be selected),” he said.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “There are a lot of things that the technical team considers when picking a squad for a particular match or tournament, and the coach believes that this squad will do the immediate job. There will be changes obviously if we make to the group stages. There could be injuries and dip in form for some players, so changes will be there.” [/perfectpullquote]
The omission of Adebayor has raised controversy among football stakeholders who believe that Adebayor was eligible for selection following his past contributions to the national team.
The Hawks skipper was last season used as a substitute in a couple of matches netting three goals and two assists.
Le Roy, however, included players who have featured for Togo’s local-based national team, including Agbozo Klousseh, Aigba Abdul Mubarak and Mubarak Abdul Bode in the squad.
Togo Squad
Akakpo Wilson (Ittihad Alexandria, Egypt), Ag ozo Klousseh (Dyto, Togo), Aigba Abdoul-Mubarak (AS OTR, Togo), Atakora Lalawele (Kazma SC, Kuwait), Atchou Franco (Fremad, Denmark), Ayite Floyd (Fulham, England)
Bassa Djer Sabirou (Coton Sport, Camerooon), Barcola Malcolm ( OL, France), Bebou Ihlas (Hoffeinheim, Germany), Bode Abdoul Sabourah (ASCK, Togo), Dovessi Matthieu (Toulouse, France), Djene Dakoman (Getafe, Spain), Gnama Akate (AS Togo Port, Togo)
Laba Kodjo (Al-Ain FC, UAE), Lawson Steve (Livingston, Scotland), Peniel Mlapa (Al Ittihad, Egypt), Olufade James, US Douala, Cameroon), Ozou Jean (ASK, Togo)
Ouro-Sama Hakim ( Belnsese Sad, Portugal), Mekodi Kokovui (Dyto, Togo), Tchakei Marouf (ASKO, Togo), Sunu Gilles (BB Uzrumspor, Turkey).
