Togo have brightened their chances of qualification for the 2015 AFCON finals after a hard fought 1-0 win over Uganda at the Stade De Kutgue Stadium.
Defender Serge Akakpo headed in a well taken free kick on 69 minutes to send the ball past goalkeeper Dennis Onyango. The win gives Togo six points from four games. They also stopped Uganda by the same margin last weekend in Kampala.
Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor performed better than during the match last weekend, with good runs and a willingness to get back to defend.
“We are happy to get this win and we shall work hard to try and win the next two games. We started poorly by losing two games, but we are now back on track,†said Adebayor.
The visitors, who last qualified for AFCON in 1978, will also have themselves to blame when substitute Brian Majweha shot out with only goalkeeper to beat.
Portugal based William Luwagga beat his man to cross a nice ball that Majwega failed to capitalise on.
The two sides did not create lots of scoring chances, as the defenders on either side stood firm. Cranes skipper Geoffrey Massa was kept at bay, while Adebayor was also tightly marked by Isaac Isinde and Savio Kabugo.
Cranes coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic said although they lost the game, he was satisfied with the way his players had responded. “We also had the chance to win the game here in Lome, but we did not take our chance,†added the coach.
The Cranes, who have four points, will now wait to fight back and try to get maximum points when they host Ghana next month before traveling to face Guinea.