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Monday, 12 June 2006, 17:10 GMT 18:10 UK

Confusion over Pfister comeback

Otto Pfister Confusion surrounds the possible return of Otto Pfister as Togo coach.

The 68-year-old resigned on Friday following a pay dispute between players and the Togo football federation.

He then said he would return for Togo's World Cup opener against South Korea on Tuesday, after receiving a fax offering him his job back.

But a government official said Pfister would not be reappointed, and a Togo football administrator said assistant Kodjovi Mawuena would step in.

Mawuena was one of Pfister's assistants before he quit after a row over unpaid bonuses.

Pfister's son and agent, Mike, told fifaworldcup.com that an agreement had been reached to enable his father to resume his duties.

"Yes, he is back as a Togo coach," said Pfister Jr. "It is a matter of the heart.

"The FA has decided to choose him against all other candidates.

Coach Winfried Schaefer "The players have also tried to get him back over the last days and contacted him, which was the decisive step."

It leaves Togo's preparations shrouded in confusion, not least because former Cameroon coach Winfried Schaefer has been approached to replace Pfister.

Schaefer held a four-hour meeting with Togo officials on Sunday after Pfister's shock resignation.

However, he was not confident that he would be handed the job after making a series of demands in line with those that Pfister had made.

Players have pressed their demands for 155,000 euros (£105,900) each to play in the World Cup plus 30,000 euros (£20,500) each per win and 15,000 euros (£10,000) per draw.

Officials from a country with an average per-capita income well below £500 have said the demands are too high and negotiations are still underway.

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"I don't think there will be an agreement," said Schaefer, before Pfister announced he would take charge of the Group G opener.

Togo, the lowest Fifa-ranked team in the tournament, are appearing in the World Cup finals for the first time.

Their other Group G opponents are France and Switzerland.



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Related to this story:

South Korea v Togo (27 Apr 06 |  World Cup 2006 )
Stadium roof shut despite warning (12 Jun 06 |  World Cup 2006 )
Togo coach seeks Pfister's return (10 Jun 06 |  Togo )
Togo coach Pfister quits over pay (10 Jun 06 |  Togo )
Schafer: "I'm still coach" (19 Nov 04 |  African )
Cameroon sack Schafer (18 Nov 04 |  African )
Schaefer under fire (28 Oct 04 |  African )
Togo team guide (22 May 06 |  Togo )
World Cup debutants (20 May 06 |  World Cup 2006 )
Pick your Togo XI (16 May 06 |  Squad selectors )
World Cup schedule (25 May 06 |  Schedule )
Have your say on the World Cup (28 Apr 06 |  )
BBC World Cup coverage (27 Apr 06 |  BBC coverage )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Fifa
Official Togo website
African football
Germany weather
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