GUYAZOU Kassim has flown back to Togo after signing an 18-month contract with Ridgeons League Ipswich Wanderers.The 25-year-old midfielder has 19 full international caps and played in the qualifying tournament for last year's World Cup.

By Elvin King

GUYAZOU Kassim has flown back to Togo after signing an 18-month contract with Ridgeons League Ipswich Wanderers.

The 25-year-old midfielder has 19 full international caps and played in the qualifying tournament for last year's World Cup.

He was named in the original Togo squad for the finals in Germany - along with his country's most famous player, Emmanuel Adebayor the Arsenal striker.

But he did not appear in the three games in Group D that saw Togo lose 2-0 to France and Switzerland and 2-1 to South Korea.

Kassim flew out of England on Tuesday after impressing Wanderers manager John Clarkson during a trial period at Humber Doucy Lane.

“Guyazou has to visit the Togo FA and complete his side of the formalities,” said Clarkson.

“We have applied for a work permit, and with 19 caps we don't envisage a problem.

“He can make a big difference to us, and it is a shame he will not be ready to play in Saturday's FA Vase fourth round game at Lowestoft Town.”

Kassim, who has played for three top division clubs in Togo, has not played outside his own country before.

He was part of the Togo squad that played in the Cup of African Nations a year ago, and was sent off in a match against Angola last January.

In the 2006 World Cup qualifiers Kassim was in the side that played Zambia in June 2005.

Adebayor is the star man coached by Otto Pfister and also includes the Nigerian-born Emmanuel Mathias and goalkeeper Kossi Agassa who plays for Metz.