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Match - Sun 14 October, 17:30,
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Togo in Gabon’s path
Emmanuel Adebayor, Togo
Togo held the co-hosts of the 2012 AFCON to a 1-1 draw in the first leg played in Libreville on September 8. Now the second return leg of this encounter will be played this Sunday in Lome. Kick-off for the match is at 17h30 (CAT).
When Gabon coach Paulo Duarte revealed his squad for this clash it was without captain and key defender missing on the list. Bruno Ecuele Manga is undergoing an injury layoff following a knee ligament surgery after the first match day of the French Ligue 1 in August.
However, the Portuguese coach will be counting on Brest’s solid centre back Moises Brou-Apanga and Remy Ebanega of French Ligue 2 side Auxerre to man the Panthers’ back half. Levy Madinda, Andre Biyogho Poko, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Daniel Cousin are among the top regulars included on the list.
Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor made a return to fitness and came off the bench to replace Jermaine Defoe on 68 minutes this past Sunday for his side Tottenham Hotspur against Aston Villa. Adebayor returned to international football in the first leg of this tie with Gabon and will hope to spur his nation on. A scoreless draw will see the Togolese go through on away goals.
There is, however, a controversy regarding officials for this match. CAF says it will not replace the referee appointed to preside over the Togo-Gabon match in the second leg of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final round qualifying following a complaint filed a day ago by the Gabon football federation (Fegafoot).
The African football body named Mauritian trio Seechurn Rajindrapersrad, Bootun Balkrishana and Vivian Vally to officiate the match, but the Fegafoot rejected the referee and his linesmen due to a 2009 match row involving the officials, and asked CAF to replace the group.
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