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Togo coach Six left fuming

Six: Feeling hard done by

Six: Feeling hard done by

Togo coach Didier Six was left fuming after his side were disallowed a goal in their 2-1 loss to the Ivory Coast in their 2013 Africa Cup of Nations opener on Tuesday.

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The Frenchman stormed out of the post match press conference and was still visibly upset with the referee's decision not to award a goal, even during the team's training session on Wednesday.

The Elephants took an early advantage through Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure but the Togolese hit back just before the break through a Jonathan Ayite effort.

Togo thought they had taken the lead from a corner just after the break, but the referee disallowed the goal, apparently because it was taken too quickly.

The scores remained level for most of the second half until Arsenal's Gervinho piled more agony on to the Sparrow Hawks by netting the winner two minutes from time.

"There were too many refereeing mistakes. It's not an excuse, but there were too many abnormal decisions," Six told AFP.

"Notably this goal, which was totally legitimate.

"The referee blew his whistle, that means the player can play!

"He sees the Ivorians aren't ready, and as he's scared of a big circus act he makes them play it again.

"If one has to wait for the men who are higher up the pecking order to be ready, he should tell us!"

Six hopes his premature exit from the press conference will force the organisers to action and improve the standard of officiating at this year's AFCON.

"I was obliged to turn up at the press conference otherwise I would have been fined," he continued.

"If my brief intervention at the press conference can stir up (organisers) CAF on the refereeing front, that will be better for everyone."

The 58-year-old feels his side were hard done by in their opening match and believes they should have come away with something to show for their performance.

"We managed to contain or even more the Ivory Coast. Sabri (Lamouchi, the Ivorian coach), who is a friend, said to me 'we didn't deserve to win today'," he added.

"It's always easy to say that when you have the three points, but it's true."

Posted: 24/01/13 11:08

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