Komi Massamasso Tchangai (8 August 1978 – 8 August 2010) was a Togo

Togo

Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...

lese football defender

Defender (association football)

Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....

.

Career

Tchangai signed to the Italian club Udinese Calcio

Udinese Calcio

Udinese Calcio is an Italian football club based in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and currently plays in the Serie A. Founded in 1896, Udinese is the second oldest club in the Serie A, after Genoa....

 in 1998 after appearing for Togo at the 1998

1998 African Cup of Nations

The 1998 African Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso was the 21st edition of the African Cup of Nations , the national football championship of Africa, administered by the Confederation of African Football . Just like in 1996, the field of sixteen teams was split into four groups of four...

 African Cup of Nations

African Cup of Nations

The Africa Cup of Nations, also referred to as the African Cup of Nations or African Nations Cup, officially CAN , is the main international association football competition in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football , and was first held in 1957. Since 1968, it has been...

 finals in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...

. Tchangai was loaned to ND Gorica

ND Gorica

ND Gorica is a Slovenian football club, playing in the town of Nova Gorica. They are one of the most successful Slovenian clubs with four Slovenian League, two Slovenian Cup and one Slovenian Supercup titles. Together with NK Maribor and NK Celje they are the only club that have participated in...

 in Slovenia

Slovenia

Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...

 and later to the Dutch club De Graafschap

De Graafschap

De Graafschap is a professional football club from Doetinchem, Netherlands. It was formed on 1 February 1954 and they play their home games at the "De Vijverberg" stadium. Their current home ground stands on where the old pitch used to be located and was opened on 12 August 2000...

 before moving to Viterbese

A.S. Viterbese Calcio

Associazione Sportiva Viterbese Calcio is an Italian association football club, based in Viterbo, Lazio. The club was founded in 1908 and refounded in 2004 as A.S. Viterbo Calcio, but changed its name back during the 2005–06 season. Viterbese currently plays in Serie D. The team's colors are yellow...

 and Benevento

Benevento Calcio

Benevento Calcio is an Italian association football club, based in Benevento, Campania. The club was founded in 1929 and refounded in 2005. Currently it plays in Lega Pro Prima Divisione/A.-History:...

 in the Italian lower leagues. Tchangai signed for Al-Nasr on 17 November 2009, making him one of the club's biggest signings in recent history.

International

Tchangai was a member of the national team

Togo national football team

The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks, is controlled by the Fédération Togolaise de Football.They played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Their team bus...

 and was called up to the 2006 World Cup

2006 FIFA World Cup

The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...

. He represented his country at four Africa Cup of Nations (1998

1998 African Cup of Nations

The 1998 African Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso was the 21st edition of the African Cup of Nations , the national football championship of Africa, administered by the Confederation of African Football . Just like in 1996, the field of sixteen teams was split into four groups of four...

, 2000

2000 African Cup of Nations

The 2000 African Cup of Nations was the 22nd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the association football championship of Africa . It was co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria, who jointly replaced Zimbabwe as host. Just like in 1998, the field of sixteen teams was split into four groups of four...

, 2002, 2006). He earned his first national cap for Togo against Congo

Congo national football team

The Congo national football team, nicknamed the Diables Rouges , is the national team of the Republic of the Congo and is controlled by the Fédération Congolaise de Football. They have never qualified for the World Cup, but did win the Africa Cup of Nations in 1972...

in August 1996. He won 37 caps and scored 5 goals for Togo.

Death

Tchangai died on the evening of his 32nd birthday, on 8 August 2010, after a brief illness.

External links

• Massamesso Tchangai at National-Football-Teams.com