00:00For Interstar, the referee Al Basau blows his whistle and we are underway for match day one at the Stade
00:06KK, excuse me, in Togo.
00:11Voicing their support, beating on the drums.
00:14Please share your thoughts and opinions on social media with your hashtag TotalEnergy, it's AFCONQ2027.
00:25So free kick now, about to be taken by Burundi.
00:29It's a bit of a ruse, and in the end, Jean-Claude Chilmugisha mishits his cross, it was bobbling.
00:44Unfortunately, it wasn't able to, Kevin Denke, who, since he was receiving medical, can't be present for this set piece.
00:52Boma, who was searched for in the second post.
00:56Burundi, struggling to deal with the wave after wave of pressure.
01:02Bodé.
01:08Fortunately, he had Dermane Karim on hand.
01:18And it's booted away by Burundi, and almost gifted a throw in.
01:23Steven Nador didn't have any chasers, and there, the number 11.
01:32Well, he's a true left-footed player.
01:39Switched allegiances from Ghana to Togo in March of this year.
01:45Here's Kodusu.
01:47Kodusu gets away, has space to pick a teammate.
01:52Elected to play a low pass for Kevin Denke.
01:57But he's getting the encouragements for his club, Bradley Barcola.
02:01He's moved to Liverpool Football Club for a handsome fee.
02:06He plays for the French national team.
02:10Togo looking to strike first.
02:13It's the cross that finds no takers of Comme la Vie.
02:16Now it's Bodé.
02:19It's held back.
02:20Oh, what a strike!
02:21Beautiful goal for Togo.
02:23It's Dermane Karim!
02:31The player born in Sodomké, Togo, developed at Brennett Foote.
02:36Sparks an eruption here at the Stade de Kége.
02:51And yes, the supporters can dance Togo for Les Éperdiers.
03:01So in the end, it's a left-footed cross from Bodé
03:04who finds his teammate, Sharani Zuberu,
03:08who with his lap.
03:20And Togo.
03:23Grab a second in quick succession.
03:27Kodusu's cross won't be the assist for it.
03:30That is for certain.
03:35You have to feel for Jonathan Naimana.
03:39There's absolutely nothing the 26-year-old goalkeeper
03:42who plays for Chikumbi FC could do.
03:46We thought that Togo were comfortable in the lead.
03:49They're not.
03:50Here's Zuberu getting onto his preferred left-foot.
03:53Zuberu ready to unleash!
03:55It had taken a touch and a heavy one that
03:59because it took all the venom away from his strike.
04:05Zuberu eluded a couple of defenders.
04:09There has been instances where they've had Togo
04:13in vulnerable positions.
04:17That's better there from the number 10.
04:19He unleashes.
04:21Even Yimana tries to find Jiromo Gisha.
04:23Does so.
04:24He's one-on-one with his defenders.
04:25Jiromo Gisha works him well.
04:27Gets a left-footed shot and it fires over the crossbar.
04:32Great tempo in these last few minutes.
04:35He's been starved of good service.
04:41He hasn't played a huge role in build-up play.
04:46Oh, Kudosu, not a convincing header.
04:48Jiromo Gisha has a look for goal.
04:50Is he going to catch it now?
04:52The feints, the fakes.
04:53He's offered himself a window.
04:56Not over yet for Burundi.
04:57And in the end, it's squandered.
05:03But Jean-Claude Jiromo Gisha.
05:05One final kick of the ball left.
05:11Not even.
05:13Celso Nmildo Alvasao blows his whistle for the halftime.
05:15And it's the Hawks of Togo that go into the break with the lead,
05:21courtesy of a goal scored by Karim Dermann at the 17th minute,
05:25wearing the number 17.
05:27The midfielder catching the ball oh so sweetly
05:30with a rocket-low drive,
05:32beating goalkeeper Jonathan Naimana
05:34and beating goalkeeper Jonathan Naimana.
05:38So one change made by Burundi,
05:41and we are underway for the second half
05:42here at the Sade du Kegi.
05:46Each and every supporter of the Hawks,
05:50known as Yer-Perdier in French,
05:52wishing to see another goal,
05:54another time to celebrate again.
05:57They did so with...
06:00But if you are a supporter of the swallows of Burundi,
06:03this would be the type of response
06:06you'd be very pleased to see.
06:09They're being led.
06:11Oh, and that's a great shot.
06:12It rattles the crossbar.
06:14So unfortunate for Burundi.
06:25Togo emerged unscathed.
06:29And for some reason,
06:31Kevin Denke...
06:38So Burundi still remaining steadfast
06:41in their four-man defense.
06:45Drew Mugisha peels away on the left.
06:48It's a touch to take him a bit wide.
06:51He's working against Kudosu.
06:53Oh, that's a clever disguised pass.
06:58It seems as if...
07:02He's devastatingly efficient in the Premier League
07:05for Arsenal FC,
07:10Manchester City,
07:11as well as Tottenham Hotspur.
07:16He had a stint in Crystal Palace.
07:21It was even a favoured choice
07:23by Real Madrid at one stage.
07:30Oh, that's a great curling effort.
07:31And finally,
07:34Burundi threatened really,
07:36realistically,
07:37and forced Malcolm Barcola
07:38into a full-stretch save.
07:42There's their midfielder,
07:46Nishimiye,
07:47tried to thread him.
07:49Tried to thread the needle.
07:50Oh, look at you.
07:51Mugisha is
07:52put down
07:53Karim on the ground.
07:58Burundi
08:02just lack a little bit of
08:04that killer instinct.
08:08And this is a familiar issue
08:11that Patrick Sangwa's
08:12side have had.
08:16Confirmation on your screens there
08:18that it's Empawinimana
08:19who was brought off
08:22from Sangha.
08:27Oh, it's miscontrolled
08:28and
08:30it's pounced on
08:31by Karim.
08:33Kojo Fodolaba
08:34just couldn't get the ball
08:35to fall well.
08:36Still
08:37lashed at it.
08:39Oh, it's a little bit chaotic
08:41and indeed Burundi
08:43starting to
08:45to shoot themselves
08:46in the foot
08:52to prevent them from falling
08:55two goals down.
09:01To prevent them from falling
09:07two goals down.
09:12Bode gets a clearance.
09:16And Burundi came so close
09:19to grabbing a late equalizer.
09:28It's not over.
09:29Oh, it's going to be
09:30suspenseful
09:31until the very end.
09:35That just might be it
09:36actually.
09:38Booted away.
09:40And Kojo Fodolaba
09:42reaches it.
09:44Is he going to run
09:45to the corner flag
09:46or try to
09:46emphasize a lead?
09:49It's not over.
09:50Togo!
09:52It's sent over.
09:57And that's a final whistle.
10:00Les Eperviers of Togo
10:01pick up three points
10:03and the Stade de Guégué
10:05collectively celebrate.
10:08It wasn't easy
10:09but they emerge
10:10with a victory
10:11over Burundi
10:12and start off
10:13their qualification campaign
10:15with a clean sheet
10:16and three points.
10:19Dermann Karim
10:20scoring the all-important goal
10:22in the first half
10:24and as the night falls
10:26over the Stade de Guégué
10:28they can enter the weekend
10:30knowing
10:32that they've defeated
10:33a very stubborn opponent
10:35in Burundi.
10:36Credit
10:37to the Swallows.
10:38They made it entertaining
10:39and suspenseful
10:40until the very, very end.
10:52Scenes in the stands.
10:58And it's celebrations
11:00all around.
11:02That's Emmanuel Debaillor
11:04it seems
11:04who's
11:04made his way
11:06onto the pitch
11:07and he's
11:08congratulating
11:10the heroic performance
11:12from Les Eperviers.
11:15Dermann Karim
11:17was immense.
11:28We'll see you next time.
