Togo coach Patrice Neveu says he will make changes to his starting team when the Sparrowhawks face Zambia in their second match of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Tuesday.
The Togo national team arrived in Ndola ahead of the Group I encounter, with Neveu looking to make adjustments and address areas that need improvement after their previous match.
The French coach spoke durinNg Togo’s first training session in Zambia and said his team remains focused on achieving a positive result as they continue their qualifying campaign.
Neveu was encouraged by the attitude of his players during training and believes their recent victory has given the squad an important lift ahead of another away fixture.
“We have a very good mindset. This afternoon, we had a very good training session. The players are well-applied and focused. There was quality.
“A victory is always good for morale. We are away from home. We must use our experience in managing away matches,” emphasizes the Hawks’ coach.
Togo will face the Chipolopolo in Ndola on Tuesday, with the circumstances expected to differ from their previous match against Burundi in Lomé.
Neveu pointed specifically to the absence of Togo supporters as one of the factors that could influence the contest.
The coach said the backing from the home crowd in their previous game had played an important role in motivating some of his players, but that advantage will not be available in Zambia.
He also expects the hosts to approach the game differently, particularly given Zambia’s tendency to begin matches at a high pace.
“We won’t have our supporters who played an important role, who greatly motivated some players. The support won’t be there.
“There will be changes in the team, to bring in some fresh blood. It’s important to stay on track with the objective we’ve set for ourselves. The Zambians are used to starting matches very quickly.”
The changes are intended to provide fresh options as Togo prepare for the second game of their qualifying campaign.
Neveu’s decision comes as the Sparrowhawks seek to maintain their momentum and move closer to the objective they have set for the qualification campaign.
The coach has also stressed the importance of using the team’s experience in away matches, particularly with Togo now preparing to play without the support that accompanied them in their previous home fixture.
For Neveu, the task will be to ensure his players remain disciplined and focused despite the different conditions awaiting them in Ndola.
The Frenchman has been pleased with the team’s mindset during their preparation and says the quality shown in training has provided encouragement ahead of the encounter.
However, he expects Zambia to pose a different challenge, with the hosts accustomed to beginning matches quickly.
