Togo coach Pfister quits over pay

His former assistant Kodjovi Mawuena will take charge of the side for their first game with South Korea on 13 June.

"When I started to be manager of Togo, I was promised that bonuses for the players would be cleared," Pfister told Fifaworldcup.com.

"That is still not the case, so I decided to quit immediately. It has destroyed a dream of my life."

Pfister, who was only appointed in March, said he blamed the Togolese Football Association for the row and he was not interested in further talks.

"I'm not going back and I am giving up my work as national trainer. I won't be messed with any more," said Pfister.

"The players boycotted training sessions and with that my basis to work has been removed."

Fifa's head of communications Markus Ziegler said they had not yet had confirmation that Pfister was no longer in charge, but changing the coach was unlikely to be a problem.

"The situation for players is clear, but the rules do not apply to coaches," he said.

"An earthquake shook our preparations"
Team manager Gerson Kwadjo Dobou

World Cup debutants Togo are in the same group as South Korea, Switzerland and France.

They are the lowest Fifa-ranked team in the tournament and only appointed Pfister as coach in March.

The Togolese Prime Minister Edem Kodjo had said he would travel to Germany to personally intervene in the row.

Team manager Gerson Kwadjo Dobou said Pfister could return if he wanted to.

"Last night, an earthquake shook our preparations. Therefore everything is in a bit of chaos now," said Dobou .

"It is a shame that we are talking about money, not football."

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