Togo do not play their home games in Togo, after rioting at a World Cup qualifier against Mali, when visiting supporters were attacked.
So Togo played Cameroon in Accra, Ghana, on Saturday.
Adebayor scored in 11 minutes, missed a penalty in the second half, and Togo won 1-0.
The goal looked like a foul.
Togo’s No.9 crossed from right and the ball bounced once in the box and flew towards Adebayor and defender Andre Bike. Ade yanked Bikey by the wrist, causing him to fall over, and that gave Ade time for a free shot which went in.
As the ball is coming towards them, he’s holding Bikey’s right wrist with his left hand, and he suddenly pulls Bikey off balance, then whacks the ball in from ten yards.
As you know, strikers are fouled all day long, off the ball as well as on it. If defenders can’t reach the ball before their opponent, defenders like to play the man, then the ball. In this case, the striker played the man, then the ball. Adebayor pulled Bikey off balance and then slammed the ball in at his leisure.
In the EPL or the Champions League, he wouldn’t get away with that. The referee or linesman would invariably give a foul. It was bad defending by Bikey but it was a foul. If Bikey had pulled Adebayor down by the wrist, it would have been a penalty. But only if the ref had given a penalty.
That’s football, a rough, tough contact sport, especially in Africa. It’s a goal because the referee gave a goal and Togo won.
Strikers love it when they get away with a small but crucial foul, as they are kicked, bumped, wrestled and obstructed so often.
When England striker Gerry Hitchens went to play in Italy he was asked about the incessant fouling by defenders.
“Gerry, what d’you do when these dirty Italians push you before the ball’s even arrived?”
“Push back,” said Hitchens.
Hitchens played for England against Italy in Rome in 1961 and scored twice in a 3-2 win. He was signed by Inter Milan and played in Italy for nine years, which is eight more than Denis Law, Jimmy Greaves or Luther Blissett.
Adebayor would say his goal was biblical : Do to others as they would do unto you – only do it first.