Togo’s Hawks fly past Zambia

Togo's Hawks launched their campaign to the 2010 World Cup and African Cup of Nations on a bright note with a lone goal victory over the Chipolopolo of Zambia in a Group 11 clash at the Ohene Djan Stadium on Saturday.
The Hawks, who played in Accra due to a three-match home ban secured victory thanks to Olufade Adekanmi's 16th minute strike.
The result rests the Togolese at the pinnacle of Group 11 with three points as the other member of the group, Swaziland had an off day.
Togo led by Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor will start on an impressive note with the England-based player creating anxious moments for the Zambian rearguard any time he possessed the ball.
On one of such runs on 11 minutes, Adebayor raced past William Chinyama before laying a perfect cross, but the absence of a Togolese player in the box to tap in let the visitors off the hook.
Five minutes later, Olufade broke the deadlock by finishing off a three-man move involving Eric Akoto and Adebayor.
Ghanaian-born midfielder Akoto took the ball from the middle, raced past his marker and back-heeled to Adebayor who located Olufade. The Belgium based striker shot past Zambia goalie Kennedy Mweene for the opener..
Zambia responded positively with persistent raids into the Togolese half, and it nearly paid off on the half hour mark as speedster Clifford Mulenga struck the cross bar after Isaac Chansa had put him through.
The Hawks almost doubled their lead on 40 minutes but Komla Amewou, who had replaced Akoto five minutes earlier, saw his thunderbolt from a free-kick dealt with decently by Mweene.
Zambia coach Herve Renard introduced Emmanuel Mayoka for Rodger Kola on resumption of the second half, and the latter brought some bite into their attack.
Mulenga, who remained a nuisance to the Togolese defence throughout the game, came close to drawing parity for the Chipolopolo in the 60th and 68th minutes, but his goal bound efforts were deflected off target by Kakla Eninful and Nibombe Dare respectively.
Zambia had the upper hand for the greater part of the second half but inaccurate shooting robbed them of an equalizer.
Their plight was further worsened after Burkinabe referee Pare Lassina disallowed a seemingly perfect goal scored by Felix Katongo on the stroke of full time for offside positioning.
Zambia next plays Swaziland in Mbabane next month of the group, which will see only team progressing to the second round of the qualifiers.

Togo:
Cedric Mensah, Dare Nibombe, Yao Senaya, Adebayor Emmanuel, Tchangai Massamasso/Moumouni Abdoul Djabaro, Enninful Kakla, Robert Malm/Yao Senaya Junior, Eric Akoto/Komla Amewou, Olufade Adekanmi, Romao Alexys, Mamar Gafar

Zambia:
Kennedy Mweene, William Chinyama, Chintu Kapamba, Billy Mwanza, Joseph Musonda, Francis Kasonde/James Chamanga, Christopher Katongo, Felix Katongo, Isaac Chansa, Rodger Kola/Emmanuel Mayoka, Clifford Mulenga