Major innovations for the new season’s kick-off in Togo

Excitement has been running high since the announcement of the resumption of the new football season in Togo. The Togolese Football Federation has confirmed the return of the national first division championship on 6 November. The new season will see a return to the classic championship formula.

For the past two seasons and particularly because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Togolese football has adapted. A championship played in two phases: a regular phase and play-offs. ASKO of Kara took advantage of this to win two consecutive national titles. But for this 2022-2023 season, the classic formula is back.

2023 season, back to the classic formula. A single regular phase of 30 match days with 16 clubs throughout the country. Anges FC, AS Gbohloe-Su, AS OTR, ASCK, ASKO, AS Togo Port, Dyto, Entente II, Kakadl FC, Gomido, Sara FC, Semassi, without forgetting the promoted Espoir Fc and Tambo.

This is the substance of the meeting held last weekend by the Executive Committee of the FTF and club officials. The national championship will be played on natural or synthetic turf.

Clubs whose stadiums are not up to standard will not be able to play at home. The FTF will automatically allocate them a pitch, taking into account the availability of space, the body also informed.

To start this new season in good conditions, various training sessions are organised for the players. The referees are trained by the federation to ensure the smooth running of the championships. Club administrators and match commissioners have also received training on the management of the FTF TOGO Connect platform.

A sponsor and a broadcaster!

On the other hand, the Superchampion of Togo is yet to be known. The Super Cup 2022 edition, initially scheduled for October 29, is postponed to a later date. This is because of the round of the TotalEnergies Confederation Cup in which the champion ASKO is engaged. The Kondonas face Club Sportif Sfaxien (Tunisia) on 2 and 9 November.

Also, the second division championship will return on 12 November. The third division and the women’s championship are scheduled for January 2023.

In other good news, Togo’s national first division football championship now has a name. The competition is named thanks to a state-owned company, the national leader in the organisation and exploitation of games of chance.

And as good news never comes alone, the Togolese Football Federation has renewed its partnership with the channel that holds the exclusive rights to the FIFA World Cup, Qatar 2022, in French-speaking Africa.

The media becomes the official broadcaster of the Togolese elite championship. Everything is therefore ready to go after ASKO, the three-time defending champion of Togo.

This heralds a bright future for Togolese football, one year before the launch of the professionalization of the championships, the beginnings of which are already underway.

Source: Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF)