Gabon’s national team players are called Azingo Nationale (The Panthers of Gabon). They are managed by Gernot Rohr. The club is controlled by the Fédération Gabonaise de Football. Gabon are currently 77th in the FIFA Ranking. How will the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations influence the country’s status on the continent like around the world?
A history not so bad
There’s hope in the horizon for the Panthers of Gabon in the development of their football. Despite having no World Cup history and starting their African adventure quite late, the Azingo Nationale have numerous memories about the AFCON.
Tunisia 1994 was the Gabonese’s debut in this great soccer championship. Only 12 teams participated in the tournament – 1 of which was Gabon. The Panthers found themselves in Group B’s three-contender section with titans Egypt and Nigeria.
At everyone’s expectation, the Pharaohs and the Super Eagles reached the next stage as Gabon exited the competition with 0 point from their 2 games. A heavy 3-0 defeat to Nigeria at the Stade El Menzah and a straightforward 4-0 loss against Egypt at the Stade Chedli Zouiten completed Gabon’s miserable first-time experience at the AFCON.
The Azingo Nationale vowed to bounce back. With strength and determination, they clinched positive results during the 1996 African Cup of Nations qualifiers. Their successful campaign commenced on 13 November 1994 with an emphatic 3-0 over Mauritius in Libreville. This win was witnessed by 25,000 spectators at the Stade Omnisports.
The Gabonese kept the momentum alive and stunned Zambia 2-1 a week later. The Chipolopolo claimed revenge on Matchday 3 with a narrow 1-0 win but the Panthers of Gabon recovered from that setback by completed the double against Mauritius in June 1995.
With Madagascar, Seychelles and Kenya withdrawing from the qualifiers, only 4 Matchdays could go ahead. But that was perfect for the Gabonese who progressed from Group 5 as leaders.
In South Africa, Gabon fell in Group C with Zaire and Liberia. The withdrawal of giants Nigeria eased the pressure on the table’s other contenders. The Azingo Nationale used the Nigerians’ absence in their favor.
They shook off a bad start to the competition (2-1 defeat to Liberia) with a victory against Zaire to make it into the quarterfinals. Unfortunately for Gabonese football fans, the national team suffered a penalty nightmare against Tunisia in the Last 8.
After this experience, the Azingo Nationale featured in only two more Nations Cups where they failed to
go past Round 1. The most recent adventure occurred in Angola, in 2010. The Gabonese kicked off the show brightly with a 1-0 upset of African giants Cameroon thanks to Cousin's solitary goal, but the poor scoring form of the rest of the players came at a huge cost.
A goalless draw against Tunisia and a defeat against Zambia cruelly denied Gabon quarterfinal tickets. In the end, they finished the group phase on equal points with Zambia and Cameroon but the tie-breaking criteria put them third in the standings.
Gabon at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations
Once again, Gabon will meet Tunisia in the group stages of the Africa Cup of Nations. The Azingo Nationale will also meet underdogs Niger and Morocco. Can they use the co-hosts factor to at least match their best record at the AFCON so far?
Gabon's 2012 AFCON squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Yann Bidonga, Stephane Bitseki Moto, Didier Ovono
Defenders: Georges Ambourouet, Moise Brou Apanga, Bruno Ecuele Manga, Remy Ebanega, Edmond Mouele, Rodrigue Moundounga, Charly Moussonou, Henri Ndong
Midfielders: Andre Biyogo Poko, Cedric Boussougou, Levy Madinda, Bruno Mbanangoye Zita, Cedric Moubamba, Lloyd Palun
Forwards: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Daniel Cousin, Fabrice Do Marcolino, Roguy Meye, Eric Mouloungui, Stephane Nguema
Read next team profile - Ghana.
