Emmanuel Adebayor has a new coach at international level for Togo

The Togo Football Federation has confirmed that former Belgian international Jean Thissen is their new national team coach.

The 62-year-old has signed an 18-month contract and his main task will be to try and qualify Togo to the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations next year.

The Hawks first game in the final round of 2010 qualifying is on 28 March against Cameroon.

The other teams in Togo's group are Morocco and Gabon, who Thissen led to the 1994 Nations Cup finals in Tunisia.

The new coach will be hoping that his top striker Emmanuel Adebayor will be back to full fitness for that match, he is nearing a return to action for his English Premier League club Arsenal.

The African Footballer of the Year picked up a hamstring injury playing against Spurs on 8 February.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says there is a small chance of him playing against Burnley in the FA Cup on Sunday.

As well as his spell with Gabon Thissen has coached at several African clubs including Raja Casablanca in Morocco.

Togo have been without a full time coach since Frenchman Henri Stambouli left the job over six months ago leaving Kodjovi Mawuena in temporary charge.

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