Could Kevin Denkey be Togo’s next Emmanuel Adebayor? | OneFootball

Emmanuel Adebayor will likely go down in history as the best footballer, let alone striker, to come out of Togo. The forward played for some of the biggest clubs in Europe and help lead his side to their first ever World Cup appearance. However, in recent years Togolese football has been in decline. They have struggled to make it to Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, having missed the last three (including the upcoming tournament in 2024).

Yet in Kevin Denkey, they may well have a forward who can help get them back to being an AFCON regular. The forward is only 22-years-old and starting to show his talent in Belgium. Since joining Cercle Brugge from Nimes in the January of 2021, the forward has gone on to score 31 goals in 95 games. He is leading the way in Belgium with eight goals from 10 games, including a well taken hat-trick against OH Leuven before the international break. For Togo, Denkey has played 12 times and scored five goals, so still some way to go to match Adebayor’s 29 goals in 66 games.

Last season, Denkey scored 11 goals in 38 games, a number he is sure to surpass this season. Furthermore, he is not just one that finishes moves off. His ability to create for his teammates is an underrated part of this game. The Togolese international had eight assists to go alongside the 11 goals last season. He is yet to provide an assist this season, but that is likely to change.

At the age of 22, Adebayor had just left Monaco to join Arsenal. In France, the striker had scored 26 goals in 115 games for the club. Ironically, Cercle Brugge are linked to Monaco, meaning that Denkey could very easily follow in Adebayor’s footsteps if he so pleased. From there, most will know what Adebayor went on to achieve, including the infamous celebration against Arsenal when he was playing for Manchester City. They may well have different playing styles, but any Togolese striker will now be compared to the great Adebayor.

If Denkey can hit 20 goals this season, expect teams to come calling for the striker. Cercle are always willing to allow players to move on if they get the value they want back for the players. This has helped create a culture at the club where players know that they will be given the opportunities if they can deliver on the pitch.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson