TOGO
Agassa
Bossou, Nibombe, Akakpo, Mamah
Djene, Amewou, Wome, Ayite
Adebayo, Gakpe
BURKINA FASO
Soulama
Kone, Koulibally, Pananteguirui, K Sanou
Kabore, D. Kone, Pitroipa,
Bance, Dagano
The Hawks of Togo will battle it out with the Stallions of Burkina Faso at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit as both countries eye a semi-final berth in the ongoing 29th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.
These two west African countries have laboured in the history of the tournament with Burkina Faso's best being their fourth-place finish on home soil in 1998 and they held the country with the longest run in the tournament (17 games) without a win until they broke that jinx against Ethiopia with an emphatic 4-0 win.
Togo on the other hand are in the quarter-final of the tournament for the first time in seven appearances and this crunch encounter promises nothing than fireworks.
This is the first time they are locking horns in the history of the tournament despite the fact that they were billed to face each other in Group B of the 2010 edition in Angola, but the Togolese withdrew after gunmen attacked their team bus in Cabinda on the outskirts of Angola which saw some of their players losing their lives.
As far as this tournament is concerned, both countries have served fans and spectators with delightful attacking football laced with quick counter-attack, however, the side which will prove resolute at the back will have the urge. Burkina who have conceded just one goal look very solid in defence with the likes of Olympique Lyonnais centre-back Bakary Kone, Saidou Panantedegurui, Paul Koulibally and Mohammed Koffi.
They are yet to face a team with a well drilled attacking force like Togo. The men between the sticks will be very crucial in the game with Togo's shot-stopper Kossi Agassa who is arguably the best in the tournament and his opposite number Soulama Abdoulaye who was superb in the first game against Nigeria until he slipped in the game against Ethiopia. Serge Gakpe, Dove Wome, Jonathan Ayite and skipper Adebayor will be the key men to lead the Hawks to fly high whilst the presence of Jonathan Pitroipa, Charles Kabore, Kone and Djakaridja Kone will be very crucial if the Stallions are to make it to the semis for the second time in their history.
DID YOU KNOW?
Togo have not lost to Burkina Faso in their last four games dating back to 1999.
The all-time games record between them are as follows: played 19, Togo won nine, drew six, lost four, Burkina won four, draw six, lost nine.
Burkina Faso coach Paul Put was banned three years in Belgium by the FA for his involvement in the Ye-Zheyun match fixing scandal.
The nickname Les Etalons, which means “The Stallions” of the Burkinabe team is in reference to the legendary horse of Princess Yennega.
Three of the first 11 players of the Togolese national team are either from different countries or of mixed race (Alexys Romao - Brazilian Togolese. Emmanuel Adebayor -Nigerian, Jonathan Ayite - Ghanaian Togolese).
The last time both countries met was in a friendly in 2012 where Togo won 3-0 at the Stade Municipal.
Prediction
This crunch game will witness a lot of physical attack. Both goalkeepers will have a lot to do which includes organising their backlines. A one all draw is the likely results after 120 minutes of football of which the game will be decided by the lottery of penalties.
Editor's Prediction
Burkina Faso 1-1 Togo
