Cairo, Egypt (PANA) - Togo will have to build a new team for the World Cup finals kicking off in Germany in June, after its elimination from the ongoing Africa Cup Nations (CAN) tournament in Egypt, Assogbavi Espoir, Secretary General of the Togolese Football Association
has said.
World Cup-bound Togo, coached by former Nigerian international Stephen Keshi, has lost its two matches at CAN.
Espoir told PANA the country would build the new team with "new home-based players for greater cohesion."
But he disagreed with Keshi that lack of adequate preparation was the only reason for Togo's early exit from CAN 2006.
Espoir would not comment on the fate of coach Keshi, who said he would keep his job until the end of the World Cup in Germany.
The coach said he needed more time and the means to prepare Togo for the World Cup.
In their last CAN group match Sunday, the Togolese will play fellow World Cup-bound Angola, who have also been eliminated from the 16-nation continental championship in Egypt.