Otto Pfister has been named the new coach of Togo

Togo have named German Otto Pfister as the new coach to take the Hawks to the World Cup in Germany.

He replaces Nigerian Stephen Keshi following the team's poor performance at the African Nations Cup in Egypt.

Pfister, 67, has been coach of the former Zaire and Ghana and has also worked with clubs in Egypt and Tunisia.

The confirmation came after a series of contradictory press statements about Keshi's fate.

Togolese Football Federation president Commander Rock Gnassingbe told journalists in Lome on Wednesday the Federation has signed a contract with the German coach.

"We signed a short-term contract with Otto Pfister at the weekend," said Gnassingbe, who is the brother of the Togolese president.

"The contract will cover the World Cup period and could be extended if the results at the World Cup are good."

Gnassingbe said that the Federation was still maintaining the services of Keshi until the end of his contract which expires on the 22nd of march 2006.

But Keshi had told the BBC on Monday in Lome that he was still in his post.

"I have not been told by anyone at the Togolese football federation that I have lost my job and I remain in Togo to honour my contractual obligations to them", he told the BBC.

The confirmation of Pfister's appointment comes against the backdrop of a series of contradictory statements announcing the dismissal of Keshi on Togo National Television, followed by subsequent official denials by the Federation president Gnassingbe .

But Secretary-General of the Togo Football Federation Espoir Assogbavi told BBC Sport on Wednesday: "You can take latest press reports about Otto Pfister's appointment as the coach as accurate."

Former Nigerian World Cup captain Keshi was heavily criticised in Togo after the national team lost their three matches at the African Nations Cup in Egypt last month.