The head coach of Togo's national football (soccer) team, German-born Otto Pfister - has resigned just days ahead of Togo's first World Cup match against South Korea in Frankfurt.

Assistant coach Kodjovi Mawuena has replaced him.

Pfister is a 68-year-old who was one of the first German coaches in Africa. He quit because of an ongoing dispute with the Togolese Football Federation over player bonuses. Pfister told the FIFA Internet site that it was a situation he simply could not work with.

The Togolese players have been holding out for bonuses of $200,000 each for playing in the World Cup, plus thousands more in incentives for wins or draws.

Before taking over at Togo, Pfister led Ghana's under-17 team to the world title in 1991 and the senior team to the African Nations Cup final in 1992. Previously, he led Saudi Arabia to the 1998 World Cup, but was fired just before the tournament.

He took the Togo job after former coach Stephen Keshi was fired when Togo was knocked out of the first round of this year's Cup of Nations in Egypt.