Togo is struggling to find Alaixys Romao’s successor.
In the selection, he is the last player still active to have experienced the great epic of 2006. Alaixys Romao, almost 41 years old, continues to defend the colors of Togo, but everything suggests that he does not have many months left. to pass into the hawks’ nest.
Romao, a player who is unanimously appreciated
If there is one player in Togo over the last two decades who has never been associated with a clash, a scandal, a war of egos or even subject to criticism for a lack of involvement, it is Alaixys Romao. The former OM midfielder has always been unanimous among his teammates and successive coaches.
The exemplary nature and professionalism of the native of L’Haÿ-les-Roses have allowed him to cross generations. Romao, who was at the 2006 World Cup in Germany and the 2013 CAN in South Africa, experienced the best moments in the history of Togolese football as well as the saddest moments like the Cabinda attack in 2010 and this series of four successive eliminations in qualifying for the African Cup of Nations.
Read also: CAN 2025 (Q) – Togo: Nibombé, qualification and a future at stake
Downgraded under Nibombé
These CAN 2025 qualifiers could be the last qualifying campaign for the competition that the former Reims player is competing with Togo. If he was still an essential part of the Eleven des Eperviers under Paulo Duarte, Alaixys Romao has become a rotation player since the arrival of Daré Nibombé. He did not give him a single minute against Liberia (1-1) in Lomé at the start of the qualifiers before making him a substitute (coming into play in the 46th minute) against Equatorial Guinea (2-2). ).
Decisions which sparked a wave of criticism in the press. “Today, we must no longer be afraid of leaving Romao on the bench thinking that if he does not play, Togo will not win”, swas justified last October. “The future of Togolese football will not be built on Romao. Before calling him, he was informed about the role I would like him to play in the team. He is a key piece of our team and if we feel the need for him to play, he will play. But we have to do a projection. »
Alaixys Romao closer and closer to the end
Romao made his debut for the Togo national team on August 17, 2005 in a friendly match against Morocco. At only 21 years old, he was a decisive passer for his first in the Eperviers jersey which he could soon no longer wear: “Yes, for sure”he admitted, questioned by RFI about an international retirement that is closer than ever.
“I never would have imagined playing until this age in the national team. I’m enjoying it now. Five years ago, friends told me: ”as long as you can continue, you have to enjoy it. As long as you have the passion, as long as you have the form, go ahead, enjoy.” There, it’s just fun, but also communicating with young people, that’s what’s good, which is enriching. What is certain is that after retirement, I will not be far from the Éperviers, it is a big story between the selection and me. »
An outing which does not delight everyone, because we do not see anyone validly replacing him in the selection despite the emergence of Dermane Karim: “He is someone who had some success with Togo, notably the 2006 World Cup qualifiers and the quarter-final of CAN 2013. And during this CAN 2025 qualifying campaign, in my opinion he was the one of the best Togolese as he always has been when you trust him. The concern today is that Togo is having difficulty finding an ideal replacement for his position so I think that despite his age, we will have to continue a little until the end of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Even if people say you have to know how to let things go before they leave you, he still has a lot to pass on to the young guard during these playoffs. It is notable today that many players end their international careers beyond the age of forty and Romao can do it too. »estimates Félix Kalepe, Togolese journalist officiating on Togo Foot. Even if he recalls that “The final decision rests with the player himself. »
Dela Ayité shares the same concern. “Romao, as Dare Nibombé said, his future in the selection is dotted. We can no longer build the team around him. On the other hand, he always plays a big role each time in the selection. Whether he stops or continues, the decision is up to him, but I think he must continue as we have not yet found his real replacement. »declared the journalist of CSports Infos. In short, everyone in Togo is aware that the future of the selection no longer rests on the shoulders of Alaixys Romao, but no one dares to invite him to say stop because his worthy successor is still waiting.
