Togo qualify for Chan for first time despite losing to Nigeria

Togo made history when they qualified for the African Nations Championship (Chan) for the first time despite a 2-0 second-leg defeat to Nigeria in Lagos over the weekend.

The Togolese won 4-1 in the first-leg in Lome and that result proved enough to earn them a ticket to Cameroon 2020.

Nigeria had the tough task of overturning a big first-leg deficit but they struggled, with only an Alimi Sikiru brace leaving them short with a 4-3 aggregate loss.

Nigeria started well and took the lead after nine minutes through Sikiru who was a constant threat to the Togolese backline and came close to scoring several other times.

Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure but their finishing was abysmal. Sikiru eventually added his second goal with 19 minutes left on the clock to give Nigeria some renewed hope.

However, they could not get the much-needed third goal that would have put them through to Cameroon on the away-goal rule.

Elsewhere, Namibia overturned a 1-0 first-leg loss to Madagascar to win 2-0 and 2-1 on aggregate to also book themselves a ticket to Cameroon.

Playing in Windhoek and the home fans behind them, Namibia put in a commanding performance with Elmo Kambindu scoring a brace in the 22nd and 59th minutes.

The final line-up for next year’s showpiece in Cameroon will be completed next Sunday when the final qualification matches take place.

In partnership with ANA and Sports Leo