Togo have booked their place at a FIFA World Cup Finals for the first time in their history after taking all three points in a real ding-dong encounter away to Congo in Brazzaville.

The surprise team of African qualifying Group 1 needed only one point to secure their spot in the finals next year. They went one better, coming from behind twice before netting the winner midway through the second half.

Their nerves were tested after 25 minutes of the first half, when Mamouna Ossila put the Congolese ahead. But Togo’s talismanic striker Sheyi Adebayor stepped up thirteen minutes later to bring the scores level. After the restart Congo once again took a surprise lead when Ossila netted his second. But the Togolese would not be denied; they continued to press and their second equaliser came after 61 minutes when Maman Abdoulaye converted the first of his two goals. The second came nine minutes later, taking the Hawks into the lead for the firast time. Congo had no reply and twenty minutes later Togo were confirmed Group 1 winners.

This is a massive result for the small West African Nation and their Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi. They were not even expected to challenge for qualification with their more illustrious neighbours Senegal and Mali. However, they have defied all expectations, held their nerve, and can now look forward to rubbing shoulders with the royalty of world football in Germany next summer.

Their nearest rivals, Senegal, achieved the victory they required, beating Mali 3-0 in Dakar, with two goals from Camara and another from Diouf. But Togo's win in Brazzaville rendered the result academic. Disappointing performances earlier in the competition had left them having to hope for Togo to slip up. As the performance this afternoon clearly demonstrated, there was no chance of that, Togo have been the best team in the group and deserve their place in the finals.

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