Present at Euro 2024 as a consultant, Emmanuel Adebayor, who has played for Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City, looked back on England’s miraculous qualification for the quarter-finals. The Togolese legend also got his story straight about his role in the country. According to him, instructions were given so that he would no longer approach the national team players. It is a heartbroken Adebayor who confides in this exclusive interview with Africa-Foot.
Par Yoro Mangara,
England qualified for the quarter-finals of the Euro in a difficult way on Sunday against Slovakia (2-1, aet). How do you judge the performance of the Three Lions?
A great footballing nation will always be a great nation. They weren’t flamboyant, they didn’t dominate their subject but they knew how to win in difficulty. It was a very difficult match for them, a very complicated match, but, as I always say, it’s the victory that counts. It’s the qualification that counts. Harry Kane scoring the second goal, Jude (Bellingham) scoring a sumptuous goal to revive his team. He had a superb season, he scored an extraordinary goal in the 96th minutee minute to equalize. Honestly, it’s beautiful! I think that now they will talk to each other to be able to rectify what didn’t work to try to go as far as possible in this competition.
You are a former Tottenham Spurs player, what are your thoughts on the performance of your former teammates, Kyle Walker and Harry Kane?
Kane had a difficult match, especially in the first half. He dropped off a lot in the first 45 minutes, I think the coach must have told him to stay higher in the second half. Kane remains a striker, when you manage to score like that in a tight match and qualify your team for the quarter-finals, that’s all we’re going to remember.
For Walker, always true to himself in his outpouring of energy, his self-giving, any footballer would love to have him as a teammate.
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“I can’t be disappointed that Barcola chooses to play for France”
In this Euro, there is a Togolese, his name is Bradley Barcola and he plays for the French team. Are you disappointed that he did not choose to play for the Eperviers du Togo?
I am not disappointed, when I see the mess noted in our country, I cannot be disappointed that he chooses to play for France. He is a younger brother, I am happy for him. We must also be realistic, playing for France will open other doors for him, and give him more visibility. He is French first, it is his country of birth. Playing for France gives him more opportunities, for contracts, sponsors etc… This would not have been the case if he had chosen a small football nation like Togo. I believe he spoke to his entourage, he spoke with his father, with his mother, and I believe it is a very, very good decision.
I would have liked to see him with the Togolese jersey, that’s true. It’s a little disappointing, because I know he could have brought a lot to this Togolese team. But for his career, it’s the best decision. If you ask someone to choose between a team that will play a world Cup and a team that can’t even qualify for the African Cup of Nationsthe choice is quickly made…
“I almost gave my life for this country. Is this how I am rewarded?”
You recently made a statement on social media where you said, and I quote: “ you piss us off ” speaking about the selection. Why?
Because there are a lot of things happening in Togo with the selection. They don’t want me to approach the players, they don’t want me to be able to access the locker rooms to talk to the young brothers. It’s not normal that they do this to me. I fought for my country, I almost gave my life for this country. Is this how they reward me? We were hit in the
Benignbus accident, we were shot at in Angola at Cabinda.
You prevent someone who was captain of this team for eight years from giving advice to the younger ones, just because he stopped his career? I am the only Togolese footballer who has been able to rub shoulders with the greatest coaches in the world, who has played in the biggest stadiums in the world, and I do not have the right to share my experience with the younger ones… Fortunately I have Senegalese friends who like me, Beninese friends, Ghanaian friends, IvoriansLiberians, Nigerians who always want to see me. I work with the federation Moroccan football when I can’t even work with my country’s federation, it’s a shame but like that.
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“Me, coach? I’m capable of going on the field and hitting a player.”
Paulo Duarte has resigned as Togo coach, are you a candidate to succeed him?
No, no, no! I have always said loud and clear that I am not interested in coaching stories. I do not want to be a coach because I do not have the heart to do this job. I know my temperament, I am capable of going on the field and hitting a player and that is not normal and I know it well. I am like that! I have said loud and clear in my lives that the position of coach does not interest me.
President of the federation then?
I don’t want a position at Togo where I will be paid. The position where I can accompany young people, advise, share my experience, that’s what I want and can do. I will have fun and give fun doing that. I will tell them how to approach the match, how to ignore the pressure. If I am president of a federation, I will not be able to do that.
When you see nations like Mauritania, Gambia, Guinea Bissau moving forward and Togo moving backwards, what does that do to you?
It hurts me when I see everything we have done for this country, everything I have endured. I have argued with the Prime Minister, army generals, colonels, just so that my country’s football could move forward. I can’t sleep at night because of what we are going through. I have done everything so that Togolese football could move forward. Currently it is going backwards at great speed, but since I can’t do anything, I am blacklisted, I stay at home with my family.
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“I am happy for Mané in Saudi Arabia”
Who for the African Ballon d’Or this year? Serhou Guirassy?
Of course! He had an extraordinary season with Stuttgart, he is a striker who has scored a lot. He will be one of the contenders, that’s for sure, especially since Salah hasn’t scored as much, Victor Oshimen didn’t have the same season as the year of the title. It’s open this year. If it’s Guirassy, it will be deserved.
Do you understand why African footballers go to Saudi Arabia when they can still play in Europe?
If you are over thirty, you will first seek to secure your family and your future. European clubs are increasingly reluctant to hire a thirty-year-old. If today I take the example of Sadio Mané, I am not here to defend him or speak on his behalf, he is old enough to do so, but with everything he has achieved in Senegalthis contract will help him do even more. I am very happy for him.
Training centers are being built all over Africa. In Togo, why is it taking a while?
A training center is just a field or fields with grass and dormitories. It is not difficult to build one. Except that in Togo you must first have the approval of the State to be able to start. It is the State that must grant you the land. I made the request, I have the means to do it, I am waiting! The president promised me that it will be done, so I am waiting. Who am I to put pressure on the president? I met the president, he gave me his word. He must see with the Minister of Sports.
Georges Mikautadze who breaks everything at the Euro… You must be proud of the FC Metz nursery?
I went through this center, just like Ismaïla Sarr, Sadio Mané… Metz is a training club, one of the best in France. Before me, there was Rigobert Song, Jacques Songo’o, Robert Pirès, etc… it’s a pleasure!
