Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Gabon actu
Published on 2024-03-21 14:03:26
Absences and cascade defections are the latest news from the Panthers of Gabon who will face the Lions of Teranga from Senegal in France this Friday at 8:30 PM before facing the Red Devils of Congo Brazzaville.
Gabonese fans of their Panthers are in suspense. Many are more worried than reassured following the not very reassuring news filtering from the main team’s dressing room. The den is getting emptier each day of its leaders.
What will be the face of the Panthers, and especially the game plan that the national coach, Thierry Mouyouma, will build, given a heavily revamped squad due to the absence of many senior players from the national team.
Key players missing
If the presence of Bruno Ecuele Manga and Aaron Apindangoye in the defensive line and that of Mario Lemina in midfield can somewhat reassure, the core of the team remains disarticulated due to the absence of many key players, absent for various reasons.
The last-minute defection of Jim Alevinah (a player from Clermont in France), out due to injury, adds to the absence of many other top players who have managed, throughout matches and seasons, to establish themselves in the den and contribute to building the reputation of the national team on the continent.
Among the significant absences: Anthony Oyono, right back and player for Frosinone Calcio in Italy (also injured in the ankle); Denis Bouanga (retained by Los Angeles FC, USA), Aaron Boupendza (Club Cincinnati, USA), Ibrahim Ndong (Al Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).
These last two likely continue to pay the consequences of undisciplined acts during the last Panthers’ gathering in November. To this sad list is added Guelor Kanga (the midfielder and metronome of Red Star Belgrade), who was expelled from the den last Tuesday by the national coach who clearly does not compromise with disciplinary rigor instructions and group dynamics.
PEA’s case and match schedule
In conflict with Thierry Mouyouma, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang’s prolonged absence (already 3 consecutive gatherings) is starting to raise questions and make a lot of noise.
The devoted fans of the Panthers, the national public opinion, and other football specialists legitimately wonder how Gabon can continue to do without one of its best offensive assets, among the best Africans in France and Europe?
In great form with Olympique de Marseille and full of confidence since Jean-Louis Gasset’s return to the bench, PEA (34 years old and 74 caps), has scored 23 goals and provided 9 assists this season, in all competitions.
There are also no strong certainties in goal where the two goalkeepers called up, Loyce Marius Mbaba (FC Bouake in Ivory Coast) and Anse Ngoubi Demba (US Raon-l’État in National 3, 5th division French) lack experience with the national team and top level.
Certainly, reason dictates thinking about the rebuilding process initiated by the new national coach, but the heart and passion for football fear difficult days and mixed results for the national team under the indicated conditions. Knock on wood.
As a reminder, for this FIFA break, Gabon will face in friendly matches, respectively Senegal (2022 African champions), on Friday, March 22nd at 8:30 PM, at the Amiens stadium, and Congo-Brazzaville (in a sub-regional derby) on Monday, March 25th, at 7:00 PM, at the Marais stadium in Chambly.
Through these test matches, Mouyouma and his men are preparing for the duels against Côte d’Ivoire and Gambia on June 3rd and 10th, respectively, in the qualifiers for the 2025 CAN (July-August) in Morocco.
Good news, however, Puma is the new sponsor for the Gabonese national teams (male and female). The three-year contract signed between the German sports equipment manufacturer and the Gabonese Football Federation (FEGAFOOT) runs until 2027.
Féeodora Madiba
Read the original article(French) on Gabon Actu
