In their sixth appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, Gabon will aim to at least go one better having reached the quarterfinals of the tournament twice and failed to go beyond. But if their last performance at the biennial tournament, in 2012, is anything to go by, they may pull a surprise or two.
At the tournament co-hosted by Gabon and current hosts, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon put up a much spirited performance when they won all their group matches and set themselves as one of the teams to watch out for. However, it wasn’t to be as they lost 5-4 in spot kicks against Mali.
Their road to the Equatorial Guinea had some great inspiring performances against the likes of Burkina Faso and minnows, Lesotho.
They have been drawn in Group A against host Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso and Congo. And being a neighbouring country, they should enjoy the environment and be able to survive the group. They are, however, likely to face Zambia or Tunisia in the quarterfinals which will be another tall order for them as they attempt to go beyond the problematic stage of the tournament.
The Panthers, as they are known, boost they likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who missed a spot kick in their loss to Mali in 2012 and there would not be a better time to make up for that unfortunate incident than now.
Squad:
Goalkeepers : Didier Ovono (Ostende, Belgique), Anthony Mfa Mezui (Metz, France), Stéphane Bitseki (CF Mounana).
Défenseurs : Lloyd Palun (Nice, France), Yrondy Musavu King (Caen, France), Benjamin Zé Ondo (ES Sétif, Algérie), Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff City, Angleterre), Henri Junior Ndong (Auxerre, France), Aaron Appindangoye (CF Mounana), Johan Obiang (Châteauroux, France), Junior Randal Oto Zué (Sporting Braga, Portugal).
Midfielders: André Biyogho Poko (Bordeaux, France), Didier Ibrahim Ndong (CS Sfaxien, Tunisie), Samson Mbingui (MC Alger, Algérie), Mario Lemina (Marseille, France), Lévy Madinda (Celta Vigo, Espagne), Kanga Guelor (FC Rostov, Russie), Alexander Ndoumbou (Marseille, France).
Forwarders: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund, Allemagne), Malick Evouna (WAC Casablanca, Maroc), Frédéric Bulot (Charlton Athletic, Angleterre), Romaric Rogombé (AC Léopards, Congo), Johan Lengoualama (Difaâ, Maroc).
– By Sipho Kekana
