Team Captain Pierre-Emerick Aubemayang (in Photo)
FIFA Rank: 62
Coach: Jorge Costa
Captain: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Nickname: Les Pantheres
Best AFCON finish: Quarter-finals (1996, 2012)
AFCON 2013 finish: Did Not Qualify
AFCON PEDIGREE:
The case of Gabon at the Africa Cup of Nations is a rather curious one, as they did not compete at the continental showpiece between 1957 and 1992. They also failed to qualify for AFCON between 2002-2008 and despite advancing to the last eight of the competition in 2012, they failed to qualify for South Africa 2013.
Gabon are consistent, albeit consistently mediocre. They have never posed a significant threat at the Africa Cup of Nations and it seems rather unlikely that this trend will be altered in 2015.
FIFA Rank: 62
Coach: Jorge Costa
Captain: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Nickname: Les Pantheres
Best AFCON finish: Quarter-finals (1996, 2012)
AFCON 2013 finish: Did Not Qualify
AFCON PEDIGREE:
The case of Gabon at the Africa Cup of Nations is a rather curious one, as they did not compete at the continental showpiece between 1957 and 1992. They also failed to qualify for AFCON between 2002-2008 and despite advancing to the last eight of the competition in 2012, they failed to qualify for South Africa 2013.
Gabon are consistent, albeit consistently mediocre. They have never posed a significant threat at the Africa Cup of Nations and it seems rather unlikely that this trend will be altered in 2015.
SQUAD OVERVIEW:
The Africa Cup of Nations often presents an opportunity for national coaches to blood new talent. Some coaches take the purely developmental approach and select a youthful squad at these tournaments. Others see the Africa Cup of Nations as a rare opportunity to collect international silverware.
Gabon coach Jorge Costa appears to have adopted the former approach. Of the eight players who make up the Gabon defensive unit, five are younger than 23 and none of them are older than 30.
Every one of Costa's midfielders is younger than 24 and the only experienced campaigner among the Gabon strike force is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is actually a critical cog at Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.
The 25-year-old striker carries considerable responsibility on his shoulders but seldom does one player successfully carry the weight of an entire team at a tournament of this magnitude.
FULL SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Didier Ovono (Ostende), Anthony Mfa Mezui (Metz), Stéphane Bitseki (CF Mounana).
Defenders: Lloyd Palun (Nice), Yrondy Musavu King (Caen), Benjamin Ze Ondo (ES Setif, Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff City), Henri Junior Ndong (Auxerre), Aaron Appindangoye (CF Mounana), Johan Obiang (Chateauroux), Junior Randal Oto Zue (Sporting Braga).
Midfielders: Andre Biyogho Poko (Bordeaux), Didier Ibrahim Ndong (CS Sfaxien), Samson Mbingui (MC Alger), Mario Lemina (Marseille), Levy Madinda (Celta Vigo), Kanga Guelor (FC Rostov), Alexander Ndoumbou (Marseille).
Forwards: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund), Malick Evouna (WAC Casablanca), Frédéric Bulot (Charlton Athletic), Romaric Rogombé (AC Leopards), Johan Lengoualama (Difaa).
The Africa Cup of Nations often presents an opportunity for national coaches to blood new talent. Some coaches take the purely developmental approach and select a youthful squad at these tournaments. Others see the Africa Cup of Nations as a rare opportunity to collect international silverware.
Gabon coach Jorge Costa appears to have adopted the former approach. Of the eight players who make up the Gabon defensive unit, five are younger than 23 and none of them are older than 30.
Every one of Costa's midfielders is younger than 24 and the only experienced campaigner among the Gabon strike force is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is actually a critical cog at Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.
The 25-year-old striker carries considerable responsibility on his shoulders but seldom does one player successfully carry the weight of an entire team at a tournament of this magnitude.
FULL SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Didier Ovono (Ostende), Anthony Mfa Mezui (Metz), Stéphane Bitseki (CF Mounana).
Defenders: Lloyd Palun (Nice), Yrondy Musavu King (Caen), Benjamin Ze Ondo (ES Setif, Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff City), Henri Junior Ndong (Auxerre), Aaron Appindangoye (CF Mounana), Johan Obiang (Chateauroux), Junior Randal Oto Zue (Sporting Braga).
Midfielders: Andre Biyogho Poko (Bordeaux), Didier Ibrahim Ndong (CS Sfaxien), Samson Mbingui (MC Alger), Mario Lemina (Marseille), Levy Madinda (Celta Vigo), Kanga Guelor (FC Rostov), Alexander Ndoumbou (Marseille).
Forwards: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund), Malick Evouna (WAC Casablanca), Frédéric Bulot (Charlton Athletic), Romaric Rogombé (AC Leopards), Johan Lengoualama (Difaa).
By: Farai Diza
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