WAFU B U20/ HOW DOES IT HAPPEN THAT THE HAWKS COLLAPSE SO SOON?

The Hawks of Togo are out of the tournament in Niger before the last day of the group stage. This is the sporting consequence of the two defeats recorded in as many matches. Beyond the disappointment and perhaps the frustration, it is relevant to outline some reasons for this new failure.

Under the leadership of coach Ametokodo Mensah, the U20 Hawks have played two games, conceding three goals without scoring any. The opinion agrees that the selection is not ridiculous on the field but this offensive inefficiency and these defeats are not likely to grant any safe-conduct to the group.

Institutional sabotage

The formula may seem harsh, but it is only in appearance. The current executive of the federation has been in place for six years. In its activity report, there is no trace of youth championships. If during the first mandate we can give them the benefit of the time necessary to take their marks, nothing explains why since 2020, the youth championships site has remained closed.

However, all the programs brandished on glossy paper underline the will to organize these championships but it remained an Arlesian. Therefore, on the date of this day when a selection of young people has just fallen in the first round of a sub-regional tournament, there can no longer be any excuse. It is as if the youth soccer sector does not concern the aforementioned office and the field is left to the tinkerers and traders who have turned category soccer into a no doubt juicy business.

This institutional sabotage is also the responsibility of some players in national soccer. Those who can surely remember that during the normalization process led by Minister Folly, the ground had been sufficiently cleared for the start of a category championship. But, against all odds, preferring to sacrifice the general interest on the altar of their despicable selfish interests, presidents of clubs and leagues had made fire of any wood to prevent the start of the competition.

This is the remote cause of the current situation. This championship would have been played, despite the context of tensions and disputes, and the current office would have a reference on which to move quickly. This is not an excuse for him because it was up to him to inform himself, if he really wants to open the youth competitions. Strangely enough, they are in a hurry to appoint coaches and ask them to go and win tournaments. With players who are not regulars in their first or second division clubs. Even Holete, who often plays in the defense of ASCK, could not set himself up as a boss in the defense and show the others the way. As you make your bed, you lie in it.

We must mention a second level of institutional sabotage. In naming the coaches, no one among the decision-makers had the presence of mind to make the principle of continuity prevail. They just took some pawns and placed them here and there, without protocol. For example, the U17 coach should have been put in charge of the U20s: he knows the players who performed well during the UFOA B tournament in Lomé and he could build something more solid on this basis. We preferred to put someone else in this position; he must take over everything, especially the time to know the strengths and weaknesses of the players who have already evolved in the lower category.

Impertinent casting

Everyone agrees that the absence of Karim Dermane has greatly affected the performance of the selection. In both games, there was no one capable of controlling the midfield and putting the ball in the right place for the finish. We have seen the Hawks playing fast attack without anyone being able to negotiate such balls. They were systematically recovered by the opponents or fell into a zone without partners.

If in two games the team could not score goals, it means that the offensive bastion is not effective; it also means that the midfielders are offensive only in name. So, how did the coach make the casting? On what basis did he take such and such a midfielder, such and such a striker? The elements mentioned above more or less excuse him, but that is not enough. During the few preparatory matches, did he not feel the bad wind? What is incomprehensible is the choice to bring in players who sat on the bench during the two matches. Africa really does have incredible talent. So we spent money to bring players from Europe who were useless.