Togo FA boss stands firm

Ebow Godwin
BBC Sport, Lome

Stephen Keshi was sacked in February

The president of the Togolese Football Federation (TFF) has declared he will not succumb to pressure to reinstate Stephen Keshi as coach of the national team.

Although the former Nigeria captain played a key role in Togo's first-time qualification for the forthcoming World Cup finals, Rock Gnassingbe said Keshi's dismissal was in the best interest of the team.

"Those who are supporting Keshi are the mediocre players afraid of losing their places in the team because they have been sitting on the benches in Europe for a long time," Gnassingbe said.

"This is not the first time we are dismissing a coach for poor results.

"We sacked Tchanile Bana after the 2000 Nations Cup and Antonio Dumas in 2004, so what is the fuss about Keshi's dismissal?" he asked.

Blaming Keshi for the team's first-round exit at the last African Cup of Nations, Gnassingbe said Keshi's "lack of professionalism" created a gulf between himself and the country's key players in Egypt.

Refusing to accept responsibility for the team's poor Nations Cup showing, Gnassingbe said he will not resign from his post.

"I was elected into office as president but Keshi was appointed as a coach.

"I will only resign if the officials of the federation pass a vote of no confidence in my administration."

Formally confirming the appointment of German Otto Pfister as Keshi's replacement, Gnassingbe said he has been given a two-year contract that will end on 22 March 2008.