Gabon: Autopsy of the Panthera Grouping in France

It was expected that the Panthers would put up a much better performance against the Red Devils of Congo Brazzaville, after being thrashed by the Lions of Teranga (0 against 3). But nothing!

The teammates of captain Bruno Écuele Manga could not do better than a draw (1-1) against a Congolese team that was neither really dangerous in attack nor solid in defense.

This draw, let’s say it clearly, rather gives a below-average rating to the performance of Thierry Mouyouma’s players in the two international friendly matches organized during the FIFA window this month of March. One loss and one draw. Not very reassuring, otherwise it’s worrying!

At the end of this gathering in France and these absolutely non-reassuring results, strictness would be ill-advised towards Thierry Mouyouma who had to deal with a decimated den, as we already wrote in a previous article in the same place.

Rebuilding confidence with the key players, intensifying the search and pacifying the den

With a depleted selection deprived of its leaders and main stalwarts in all sectors of the game, it’s difficult to hold your head high. While other selections improve their game, Gabon is doing the opposite.

The results in France should alert both the technical staff and the Gabonese Football Federation (FEGAFOOT) to the depth and urgency of the work to be done on the ongoing reconstruction project.

The experimental teams lined up by Thierry Mouyouma and his assistants, against Senegal and Congo, never managed to raise their level of play.

The duo was far from being a lock for the trial goalkeepers, rather hesitant. Too many hesitations in defense and the result is evident. Écuele and Appidangoye delivered a minimal performance.

Throughout the two matches, the Panthers defense, porous on the sides, was never able to make clean and academic passes to connect with a midfield that itself lacked the inspiration to play with verticality and depth.

The offensive animation lacked a conductor, aggressiveness and boldness, reflecting an entire den where the felines were definitely too soft.

Thierry Mouyouma should have drawn all the lessons from the France stage and knows perfectly well what needs to be done to sharpen the claws of the Panthers even more, as we expect them to pounce quickly on their next prey, the Elephants of Ivory Coast very soon.

Féeodora Madiba