2012 Nations Cup: Keshi Rules Out Togo, Tip Nigeria To Qualify

Togo technical adviser Stephen Keshi is optimistic that Super Eagles will qualify for the 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea even as he ruled out Togo from the biennial football show piece.

Nigeria are second on the log with six points from three matches while leaders, Guinea have seven points from the same number of games. Nigeria have a crucial away game to Ethiopia in the first weekend of June.

Insisting that Nigeria have the chance to grab the 2012 ticket off Guinea, Keshi told SuperSport.com that what the Super Eagles need to do is to stay focus and push positively till the end.

“Well, I think so; you have to go to the end. We still have two more games, we have Ethiopia, we have Guinea at home, so you cannot give up until the last whistle and that is what I think they should do. We have great opportunity to qualify.”

However, the returnee Hawks’ coach could not extend the same optimism to the Togolese team, choosing instead to look forward to the 2014 game.

“No, I do not think Togo have chance for Equatorial Guinea next year. My going back to Togo is just to start preparing for 2013 and 2014, it is not about 2012.

“Everything is being messed up there, it is just to re-build and that is what we are going to focus on,” Keshi told Supersport.com.

On whether the Togolese FA shares in his somewhat pessimism, the former Super Eagles assistant coach explained that the situation is very clear for everybody to see and appreciate.

“They know even before they called me, there is no way they can qualify, so we know it, they know it and I just have to speak the truth.

“There is no way, they do not have the team, they have players not team and for you to qualify in a major tournament like that you must have a team.

“Togo do not stand a chance, Botswana have already qualified, Malawi are up there with Tunisia, there is no room for them.”

The former Nigerian international who said his programme will involve starting afresh, however hinted that Togolese international and Real Madrid forward, Emmanuel Adebayor will be an integral part to the process of seeing Togo stand up once again.

“My plan is just to do what I normally do, work with the home based players, make sure that the respective tools are in place and we take it step by step.

“I will recall every player that is available and ready including Adebayor. I do not have any segregation on any player, once you are ready, it is okay,” he said.

Togo are fourth on the log with three points behind runaway leader, Botswana’s 16 points and have next match against Botswana in August.