Adebayor worried about Togo

By Tope Agboola
BBC Sport

Adebayor is worried about Togo's World Cup preparations

Togo striker Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor says he is concerned about his country's preparations for the World Cup final in Germany this summer.

The Arsenal forward told BBC Sport that with three months to go before the tournament starts, the Hawks' team have still not been told who will coach them in Germany.

"I don't know anything about our World Cup programme because nobody has called me to say anything," Adebayor told BBC Sport.

"I don't even know who will be leading us to Germany. Whether it is Stephen Keshi or Otto Pfister," the Arsenal forward added.

Last month, the Togo Football Federation announced the appointment of German coach Otto Pfister to replace Nigerian Stephen Keshi, who qualified the west Africans for their first ever World Cup.

Togo's qualification ahead of 2002 World Cup quarter-finalists Senegal, provided one of the stories of the 2006 World Cup qualifiers in Africa.

But that triumph, appeared to have turned sour following Togo's first round exit from the African Nations Cup and the subsequent dismissal of Keshi.

Recently, a delegation of Togolese internationals met with the country's football authority with the hope to restoring Stephen Keshi to his post.

Nothing has been heard from the outcome of that meeting except a statement from the TFF president Rock Gnassingbe reaffirming Pfister's appointment on Wednesday.

Although the move by some of the players to see the restoration of Keshi did not sit well with the former Monaco player, he still believes the confusion is having a negative effect on the team.

"For me it is difficult and painful to see that countries like Cameroon and Senegal, who are not going to the World Cup are playing friendly matches while Togo could not."

"Of all the countries going to the World Cup only Togo [and Australia] did not utilise the last international friendly day and this bad."

"We are really running out of time in our preparation, he added."

The Togolese Footballer of the Year arrived from French side Monaco as Arsenal's second signing of the transfer window on January 13 for an undisclosed fee.

He's already proved his worth, having scored twice for his new team.

"Arsenal are a fantastic side, they play good football and for me they are the best team I have ever played with.

"They are more than a team, in fact they are a family."

"I have already settled down here and players like Mathiew Flamini, Robert Pires, Antonio Reyes and Jens Lehmann have made sure I am comfortable.

Thierry Henry has also been very helpful and I've visited him at home on several occasions."

Standing at an impressive 1.90 metres, the lanky 21 year old player hardly goes unnoticed in the premiership where he scored on his first-team debut in the 2-0 win at Birmingham in early February.

"I have enjoyed playing behind Thierry Henry."

He can make split second decisions and score from any angle, so I have got a lot to learn from him."

"My dream is simple to learn and score many goals for Arsenal."