Position: Defender
Born: 03.04.86
Club: Esperance

Although Emmanuel Mathias will be one of many unfamiliar faces in Togo's World Cup squad the young full-back is emerging as a key figure for his nation since making his debut as recently as March last year.

Born in Nigeria, Mathias only moved to Togo in 2004 to play for leading club side Etoile Filante and after taking a Togolese passport he was able to play for his new homeland immediately and swept into the drama of the Hawks' qualifying campaign.

In his first game Togo defeated Mali 2-1 after a stoppage-time winning goal and in the following friendly against Burkina Faso Mathias scored his first international goal from the penalty spot.

The newcomer continued to make the right-back spot his own as Togo shocked African football by pipping World Cup 2002 quarter-finalists Senegal to a place in Germany.

In club football a transfer to Tunisian giants Esperance followed and he has become a regular in the first team, showing the sort of form that may well see his career veer towards to limelight of the European leagues.

• 2 Dare Nibombe
• 7 Moustapha Salifou
• 18 Yao Senaya
• 1 Ouro Tchagnirou
• Sherif Toure