Togo at 2013 AFCON: Togo explodes into joy after historic AFCON quarter final berth - The West African state of Togo exploded into spontaneous joy on Wednesday as the country's football team reached the quarter finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) competition for the first time following a 1-1 draw against Tunisia.
Togolese from all walks of life, including women and children, poured into the streets of the capital, Lome, when the referee blew his final whistle in the match in South Africa, shouting for joy. Firecrackers were let off, horns and whistles were blown as victory songs filled the air.
There were traffic jams as jubilant and noisy Togolese fans celebrated in a carnival.
This is the first time Togo has reached this stage in an AFCON tournament after seven attempts and it has come against the background of problematic preparations dogged by protests on allowances for the players, question marks on the participation of captain Emmanuel Shéyi Adébayor, and the bad-tempered reactions of some players and even the coach, Frenchman Didier Six.
A fundraising committee set up to support the Sparrows announced on Tuesday in Lome that the allowances for the team had been resolved.
The committee said provision had been made for a participation premium of 10 million F CFA for each player; 4 million F CFA for each match won; 10 million F CFA per player if the team reached the quarter finals; 15 million F CFA for the semi-finals and 40 million for the final.
Togo will play Burkina Faso on Sunday for a place in the semi final.
Pana 31/01/2013