Defending champions Togo ensured they did not return home empty-handed when they beat neighbours Benin 2-1 to claim third place in the WAFU tournament.
A balanced fight in the opening minutes in which both played cautiously gave way to swift attacks and counter attacks from the 10th minute.
Togo opened the scoring after 13 minutes when a free kick was floated into the Benin penalty box. The ball ran free to Kossivi Nouwoklo who applied a gentle finish past keeper Allegbe Suturnin.
The highly fancied Benin team really have been feeble but systematically they wore themselves back into the game.
Most of their moves came from the flanks trying to exploit openings to cut into the Togo area.
Their efforts were rewarded in the 34th minute when they struck back perfectly. The hardworking Jadel Dossoiu ran onto a pass on the right and with lightning speed, outrun his marker to fire past on-rushing keeper N’Guessoun Djeheni.
A more interesting second half was to be witnessed and the fans had a lot to cheer about.
But it was Togo who laughed last with just four minutes to end the game.
A lightning break from the Togolese caught Benin flat-footed and Saibou Badarou finished off successfully.
Togo held on firmly to the lead to secure a respectable third place.
