Three days before the trip to Tizi Ouzou, Djene Dakonam, captain of the Sparrowhawks, and Kévin Denkey, the Togo international striker, set out Togo’s ambitions and spelled out the instructions for facing Algeria on 14 November in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
Togo are preparing for their two meetings with Algeria. Ahead of the third matchday of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, captain Djene Dakonam and striker Kévin Denkey set out their ambitions and their instructions, according to remarks relayed by CSPORTS INFOS. The Sparrowhawks travel to the Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium in Tizi Ouzou on 14 November at 19:00 GMT, before hosting the Fennecs on 17 November at 16:00 GMT at the Stade de Kégué in Lomé.
The Togo squad is at full strength for this camp, but Togo are still smarting from a defeat to Zambia. The captain and the striker were keen to recall what is at stake. “The objective hasn’t changed: it’s to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations,” said the Getafe defender.
Dakonam: “do everything” for a good result
The Sparrowhawks captain makes no secret of the importance of the match. “We are very aware of what is at stake and we will do everything to get a good result here in Algeria,” he told CSPORTS INFOS. There are still four matches to play in these qualifiers.
Asked about the defeat to Zambia, Djene Dakonam pointed to a recovery problem, with the team “very tired”. He also thanked the Togolese public for their help in the first match.
The Getafe defender also stressed the mindset to adopt: “We have to give everything, not try to be stressed before the match, because it’s a football match. It will be 11 against 11.”
Denkey puts his faith in collective solidity
Alongside him, Kévin Denkey set out the keys to the match. The Togo international striker stressed the importance of collective defensive solidity: “We have to prepare for the match a little differently from the others because you need extra concentration for matches like this, and we have to stay quite compact and solid. Defensively, we all have to defend together.”
The player says the new technical staff have put in place a Togolese style of play and tactical instructions suited to the available players. “We know they’re a good team. Here, the theme is to concentrate 100%, or even more, to go and challenge them and get a result over there,” he added.
Denkey also stressed the need to take chances in order to pick up points.