The Togo national team, led by coach Patrice Neveu, suffered a 0-1 defeat to Algeria in their CAN 2027 qualifier match on November 15, 2026. The match was played at the Hocine-Aït-Ahmed stadium in Tizi Ouzou, Algeria. Togo's starting lineup included Malcolm Barcola in goal, Lilian Brassier, Kennedy Boateng, and Augustin Drakpe in defense, Henri Koudossou and Pierre Nadjombe on the wings, captain Dakonam Djené as a sentinel, and Samsindin Ouro and Dermane Karim in midfield, with Kevin Denkey and Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba upfront.
The match began with Algeria dominating possession in the first 10 minutes, with Anis Hadj Moussa posing a threat to Togo's goal. In the 12th minute, Hadj Moussa curled a shot that Barcola easily caught. Mohamed Amoura was the most active Algerian player, but his shots were either off-target or blocked by Togo's defense. As the game approached halftime, Togo started to show signs of life, with Augustin Drakpe heading a corner kick that Algerian defender Achref Abada cleared off the line.
The second half saw a change in momentum, with Ibrahim Maza firing a shot wide of the post for Algeria. However, Togo's players became more aggressive, with Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba heading a powerful shot that narrowly missed the target in the 58th minute. Later, Pierre Nadjombé unleashed a heavy shot that Algerian goalkeeper Melvin Mastil repelled with his fist. Patrice Neveu made substitutions to strengthen Togo's defense, introducing Loïc Bessilé and Kodjo Aziangbé in the 70th minute.
The match was decided in the 76th minute when Algeria scored the winning goal. A corner kick was cleared by Togo's defense, but Hadj Moussa recovered the ball on the left wing and crossed to the second post, where captain Ramy Bensebaïni headed the ball past Barcola. The goal sparked celebrations among the Algerian fans, and Togo's players struggled to respond.
Despite the setback, Togo's players continued to fight, with Barcola making a crucial save to deny Himad Abdelli in the 85th minute. In the final seconds of the game, Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba fired a shot that Mastil barely blocked. The referee's whistle ended the match, securing a 1-0 win for Algeria.
The result leaves Togo with 3 points in Group I, 4 points behind second-placed Zambia. The top two teams in each group will qualify for the CAN 2027 finals in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Togo still has a chance to advance, but they must win their next match against an opponent on November 17, 2026, at the Kégué stadium in Lomé.
The outcome also means Algeria tops the group with 7 points, followed by Zambia with 4 points, Burundi with 2 points, and Togo with 3 points. Togo's coach, Patrice Neveu, emphasized that his team still has a chance to qualify and will focus on their next match.
Key points
- Togo will play their next match on November 17, 2026, at the Kégué stadium in Lomé.
- Algeria leads Group I with 7 points, followed by Zambia with 4 points.
- Togo has 3 points, 1 point behind second-placed Zambia.
