Four-goal hero Adebayor powers Togo to next round qualifiers

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor proved his class when he bagged four goals as Togo crashed Swaziland in the ultimate Group 11 clash of the 2010 World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.

Adebayor's second half hat-trick plus another on the icing which was aided by strikes from Salifou Moustapha and Olufemi Adekanmi proved vital to the Hawks progress in the must win encounter.

After beating their hosts in the first leg encounter last June, the Swazi's were expected to give their hosts some stiff opposition, but their output raised question marks regarding their first leg performance.

The Togolese completely outplayed their guests in every department of the game and could have scored more but for complacency which set in their play in the latter stages.

Aston Villa midfielder, Salifou opened the scorings after 16 minutes with a spectacular shot from a free-kick just outside the Swazi penalty area that left goalkeeper Njabuliso Sumelane stranded.

The goal sent the partially packed crowd at the 40,000 capacity stadium wild as they cheered on for more goals.

On the half hour mark, Adebayor doubled the lead as he slid home after rounding past the entire Swazi defence before Adekanmi made it three on the stoppage of half time.

By the 53rd minute mark, Swaziland coach Ephraim Mashaba had exhausted all his substitutions but it did little to change the game in the favour, before Adebayor scored in the 46th, 71st and 85th minutes to complete the goal massacre and send the Togolese on a party mood.
Togo finished on six points, one point adrift of leaders, Zambia, but remains in contention for one of the eight best runners-up spots.