Togo fans hope that Hubert Velud can lead their team to the World Cup

Togo have named 50-year-old Frenchman Hubert Velud as their new coach just 10 days before facing group leaders Cameroon in a 2010 World Cup qualifier.

Velud replaces Belgian Jean Thissen, who left acrimoniously after seven months in the post having been sidelined for Togo's previous match.

"The divorce between Mr Thissen and his employers is confirmed," said a Togo Football Federation official.

Togo must avoid losing to Cameroon to keep their qualifying campaign alive.

Velud, who has previously coached in France, takes charge of a team that has not won in four matches, including three qualifiers.

Their last match saw Thissen sidelined in bizarre circumstances, Togo officials claiming he was unwell and subsequently unable to do the job, a claim the then-manager disputed.

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