Togo’s Keshi Rebuffs Calls for Resignation

There you have it. After less than one week of play in the African Nations Cup a coach already has to answer questions about his future.

Togo coach Stephan Keshi is on the proveribal hot seat, at least in the media. Following his team’s 2-0 loss to Cameroon today reporters asked Keshi if he will resign now that his team has been ousted from the CAN. His response: “Will I resign? That is a question for the federation and not me. Losing games sometimes can be the making of a team’s character and this I am sure will be the case with this side.”

The question of resignation is as ridiculous as it is predictable. No one had a problem with Keshi while he was leading Togo through its magical qualifying run. So it is absurd to think that the man should be tossed to the curb after a pair of poor performances.

The biggest problem Keshi faces is his relationship with his superstar striker Emmanuel Adebayor. If anything, Togo’s Football Federation should come out with a strong statement backing Keshi and condemning the petulant Adebayor. Then the two should be forced to sit in a windowless room until they are able to work out their differences.