Togo – Nibombé faces crucial qualification and uncertain future
A Decisive Qualification for Togo
With just two days to go before the end of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Daré Nibombé, the coach of the Hawks, is at a turning point in his career. In the event of non-qualification, he could see his future at the head of the Togolese selection compromised, just three months after his appointment.
Ambitions That Collide With Reality
When he took over in August 2024, Nibombé, who is starting his coaching career after obtaining his UEFA Pro diploma, expressed high ambitions for Togo: “The objective is to put Togo back on the roof of Africa and to qualify for the 2025 AFCON,” he said after signing his contract. However, results have been slow to follow, and after four games, his record is mixed: two draws and two defeats.
Criticism of him has focused in particular on his tactical approach and his choice of players, such as that of captain Dakonam Djené, who has often alternated between the position of central defender and that of right-back. These adjustments have sown doubt among observers and supporters, who question Nibombé’s ability to guide a struggling Togo team.
Pressure Mounts Ahead of Final Matches
With qualification on the line, Nibombé finds himself under pressure. Fans, eager to see their team return to the African Cup of Nations after a long absence, are beginning to doubt his ability to lead the Hawks to the 2025 AFCON. In the event of elimination, some believe that a separation from the coach could prove necessary.
Despite the pressure, Nibombé remains confident. “My ambitions have not changed. We still have points to defend and we will go and get these six points,” he said after the defeats against Algeria last October. For the coach, everything is still possible: a victory against Liberia and a good result against Equatorial Guinea could offer a chance of qualification.
The Qualification Equations
For Togo (2 points) to qualify for CAN 2025, the conditions are complex. The country must imperatively win its last two matches, against Liberia and Equatorial Guinea. At the same time, it will have to hope that Equatorial Guinea (7 points) loses against Algeria on November 14. Thus, Nibombé must prepare for a tense scenario, where each match will be crucial to save its position.
Conclusion: A Crucial Turning Point for Nibombé
The next few weeks will be decisive for Daré Nibombé. The end of the qualifiers could not only determine Togo’s qualification for the 2025 CAN, but also the future of the coach at the head of the Éperviers. If Nibombé manages to guide his team to qualification, he could strengthen his legitimacy and the attachment of Togolese supporters. On the other hand, a failure could mean the premature end of his mandate, barely three months after taking office.
