On Sunday, June 30, 2024, Maman Chérif Touré, a former player of Togo’s national team, made explosive accusations against his former teammate Emmanuel Adebayor. Touré claims that Adebayor played a key role in Togo’s early exit from the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Touré alleges that Adebayor was instrumental in organizing a strike just 13 days before the tournament began. Adebayor reportedly encouraged his teammates to demand their bonuses ahead of the competition, asserting that the funds were already available. This action, according to Touré, severely disrupted the team’s preparations and hindered the ability of many talented Togolese players to showcase their skills on the world stage, thereby affecting their chances of securing contracts with major clubs.
In an attempt to clarify the situation, Touré contacted the late Stéphane Keshi, Togo’s former coach, though Keshi was no longer coaching the team by the 2006 World Cup. Keshi reportedly explained that bonuses are typically paid after the tournament and that the Togolese authorities should have preemptively provided the necessary funds to motivate the players.
2006 World Cup: Adebayor slammed by his former teammate
Touré, who was also known as Sheriff during his stint with Livingston FC in Scotland, criticized Adebayor for not acting as a responsible captain. “Athletes don’t go on strike like that. A captain should first discuss with the coach to resolve conflicts, instead of creating discord,” he emphasized. According to the former Marseille player, the strike not only damaged the national team’s reputation globally but also discouraged many potential recruiters interested in Togolese players.
During the strike, the team attracted significant media attention. “Journalists were all over us, as if we had already won the World Cup,” Touré recounted in the Ewe language with a laugh. He added that the situation drew media scrutiny and that Adebayor’s interview, despite being the strike’s instigator, was particularly damaging. Sheriff said that Adebayor distanced himself from his teammates by stating that he didn’t need the bonuses because he was already earning well at Arsenal, implying that only the players without clubs needed the money.
The Background
Maman Chérif Touré’s statements follow weeks of criticism from Adebayor, who has repeatedly taken to TikTok to blame the national football team for its struggles, especially since Togo has struggled to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cups.
Recently, Adebayor has often voiced his frustration at being distanced from the national team, despite his significant contributions to Togolese football. In his responses, the former Manchester City player also mentioned personal issues he had with his former friends and teammates.
In contrast, Touré, who rarely speaks out, used the same popular TikTok platform in Togo last Friday to accuse Adebayor of manipulating the Togolese public since 2005. “You’ve been manipulating Togolese people since 2005, but no one pays attention, and you keep going. You’ve ruined many things, but we let it slide, and now you’re the one who keeps talking,” he stated, before announcing a follow-up discussion on Sunday.
Eventually, the two players had a discussion on Sunday after Touré’s revelations, but he stood by some of his accusations despite Adebayor denying others.
Currently, Togo’s national team recently ranked 120th by FIFA, is without a coach following the departure of Portuguese manager Paulo Duarte after the team’s poor performance.
AfrikPage
