Togo’s football story is a bit of a rollercoaster, isn't it? One minute you’re thinking about that legendary 2006 World Cup run with Emmanuel Adebayor leading the line, and the next, you’re looking at the current togo national football team standings and wondering where it all went sideways. Honestly, being a fan of Les Éperviers (The Sparrowhawks) lately requires a lot of patience and maybe a bit of a thick skin.
Right now, as we sit in early 2026, the situation in the CAF World Cup Qualifiers for Group B is pretty grim for Togo. They’ve finished their 10 matches, and the table doesn't lie. They ended up in 4th place with just 8 points. To put that in perspective, Senegal topped the group with 24 points, and DR Congo followed with 22. When you’re 14 points behind the leader, "struggling" feels like an understatement.
The Brutal Reality of Group B
The qualifying cycle for the 2026 World Cup was always going to be a mountain to climb. You’ve got giants like Senegal and a resurgent DR Congo in the same mix. Togo managed only one win in ten games. One. That came against Sudan in September 2025, a narrow 1-0 victory at the Stade de Kégué thanks to a Sadik Fofana goal.
The rest of the campaign was a series of "almosts" and frustrating draws. They tied five times. You can't qualify for a major tournament by drawing half your games. They lost four times, including a painful 2-0 defeat in Dakar and a 1-0 heartbreaker at home against DR Congo in October 2025. Cédric Bakambu scored in the 7th minute of that match, and Togo just couldn't find an answer for the next 83 minutes plus stoppage time.
A Quick Look at the Numbers
- Matches Played: 10
- Wins: 1
- Draws: 5
- Losses: 4
- Goals Scored: 5
- Goals Against: 10
- Goal Difference: -5
- Total Points: 8
If you look at the goal stats, the problem is glaringly obvious. They only scored five goals in ten matches. That’s an average of 0.5 goals per game. You simply aren't going to climb the togo national football team standings if you aren't putting the ball in the net.
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Who is Actually Playing?
It’s not like the squad is talentless. Far from it. Kevin Denkey, who’s been tearing it up for FC Cincinnati in MLS, is supposed to be the spearhead. He’s got the physical tools, but the service from midfield has been... well, inconsistent. He did manage a couple of goals during the qualifiers, but not nearly enough to carry the team.
Then you have the veteran presence. Dakonam Djené is still the rock at the back. The Getafe man is basically a national hero at this point, but he can't defend and score at the same time. He’s been partnered with guys like Kennedy Boateng and Kevin Boma, but the defensive cohesion just hasn't been there.
Daré Nibombé, the head coach, has been trying to mix things up. He’s brought in younger guys like Karim Dermane from Lommel and Thibault Klidjé. There's potential there, for sure. But international football is a results business, and the results have been stagnant.
The AFCON Qualification Headache
It’s not just the World Cup. The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification wasn't much better. Togo finished 3rd in their group, behind Algeria and Equatorial Guinea. They only managed 5 points from 6 games.
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Winning 3-0 against Equatorial Guinea in November 2025 was a highlight—Yaw Annor grabbed a brace—but it was too little, too late. They’d already dropped too many points in the early rounds. It’s a recurring theme: starting slow and then trying to sprint at the end when the finish line is already being crossed by someone else.
Why Do They Keep Falling Short?
It’s a complicated mess. Part of it is tactical. Under Nibombé, the team often looks organized but lacks that "killer instinct." They play a lot of side-to-side football without really threatening the box.
Another issue is the FIFA ranking. As of January 2026, Togo is hovering around 123rd in the world. Being ranked that low means you get tougher draws. You’re always the underdog. It creates a psychological barrier that’s hard to break.
Also, let's talk about the domestic league. If the local league isn't producing top-tier talent consistently, the national team relies entirely on European-based players. When those players are tired or out of form, there’s no "Plan B" from the local ranks.
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What Needs to Change?
- Clinical Finishing: They need to find a way to get Denkey more involved in the box.
- Midfield Creativity: Someone needs to step up as the playmaker. They miss that spark that can unlock a tight defense.
- Home Dominance: The Stade de Kégué used to be a fortress. Drawing against South Sudan at home (1-1 in June 2024) is the kind of result that kills a campaign.
Looking Forward to 2026 and Beyond
While the World Cup dream is dead for this cycle, the focus has to shift. There’s talk of more friendlies and a complete overhaul of the youth scouting system. The federation needs to decide if Nibombé is the man for the long haul or if a fresh perspective is needed.
The fans in Lomé are passionate. They turn up. They wear the yellow and green. They deserve a team that can at least compete for the top two spots in a group.
To improve the togo national football team standings in the next cycle, the FTF (Togolese Football Federation) needs to invest in more than just the senior squad. They need a cohesive philosophy that runs from the U-17s all the way up. Until then, we’re likely to see more of the same: flashes of brilliance followed by long stretches of mediocrity.
Actionable Next Steps:
Keep a close eye on the upcoming FIFA international windows in March and June 2026. These friendlies will be the first real indication of whether Nibombé is shifting the tactical approach. Also, monitor Kevin Denkey’s form in MLS; if he continues to score at a high rate, the national team has a foundation to build on. Finally, check the official FTF announcements regarding any changes to the technical staff or youth academy investments, as these structural changes are the only way to break the current cycle of poor standings.