Defending Champions, Togo, got off to a shaky start in the GOtv WAFU Cup when they lost 1-3 to Senegal in the opening Group B match at the Baba Yara Stadium yesterday.
The Togolese never showed championship form in the match, played in a near empty stadium, and Senegal punished them accordingly.
The tall and athletic Senegalese raced into the lead in just three minutes. Sidi Sarr swung in a free kick so invitingly across the face of goal and Talla Ndiaye connected superbly.
A character of rare substance on the afternoon, Ndiaye scored his second on 13 minutes, racing to the by-line before bursting into the box to fire past Togo keeper Salabia Hezowe.
With their pride hurt, Togo got into the picture in an attempt to reduce the deficit but Senegal defended excellently.
The brightest chance for the Togolese came in the 40th minute when Badarou Saibod beat an offside trap only to meet a stumbling block in Ousman Moue in post for Senegal.
On restart, Togo showed signs of getting back into the game as they piled pressure on Senegal, yet finding a way past the back four was a huge task.
As the game wore on, Senegal punished Togo with the third goal when Sora Mbaye took advantage of sloppy marking to fire home.
With the game heading for a 3-0 win for Senegal, Togo managed to redeem one of the goals through Saibod.
