NAIROBI, Kenya, February 28- Togo national head coach, Didier Six has predicted a tough match against host Harambee Stars on Wednesday in their 2013 Africa Nations Cup qualifier.
Speaking after his team’s final training session on Tuesday evening at the Nyayo National Stadium venue, Six added there was no side in the continent that could be considered minnows following Zambia’s epic triumphant Nations Cup campaign earlier this month.
“In Africa there is no small team and playing matches in this continent has become difficult. Preparation for this game has been difficult for Togo but we will play our best,” Six told journalists.
He added: “Nobody knew Zambia but they beat good teams. My position and that of the Kenya coach are the same, we will both play to win, if I did not want to win, I would have stayed at home.”
The French national said his star player, Emmanuel Adebayor, who was yet to arrive in Nairobi by the time he concluded his final training ahead of the match that kicks-off at 4pm local time (+3GMT) was expected on Tuesday night.
“If he arrives, I cannot keep him on the bench; it would be difficult to do that so he will play if he is here. He is a professional so he knows what to do, I’m not worried he was not with us here,” Six explained his stance on the Tottenham Hotspurs striker who was scheduled to link up with the team on a chartered flight from the UK.
On the state of the Nyayo National pitch that has concerned his opposite number Francis Kimanzi, the Sparrow Hawks boss expressed;
“When I came to coach in Africa, they asked me whether I was ready for bad pitches. This is not bad compared to others I have seen and besides, both teams will play on the same.
“I think Kenya will be motivated by playing at home and you could say this is an advantage to them and for my team, I’m only worried about small injuries, no big problems and we are ready.”
The former French international midfielder was named as Togo coach in November last year after previously handling RC Strasbourg.
He named a travelling party of 20 for the first leg of the knock-out clash with the return tie scheduled for Lome in June where the aggregate winner will enter the subsequent second phase.
