The hosts Gabon get the Africa Cup of Nations under way against tournament debutant Guinea Bissau in the opening Group A match of Africa Cup of Nations in Stade de Angondje, Libreville on Saturday 14th January 2017.
Nicknamed the Panthers,Gabon qualified as the hosts though they went through Group I to keep them in competitive matches with the games played categorised as friendlies.
The Antonio Camacho coached side is expected to go past group stages basing on the huge support from home fans.But for a side that is lacking depth in defence it will be a huge task to make it to semi-finals basing the fact that the tournament is rich of strong and finest attackers in all teams.
As they prepare to kick off group campaign alongside Burkina Faso and Cameroon, experienced Spaniard coach, Camacho who twice coached Real Madrid and Spain national team is keen for his young to impress.
However, Gabon preparations has been hit by political crisis with wrangles coming more frequently toching the Spaniard José Luis Camacho, who was recently appointed but has already been threatened with dismissal after complaining about the composition of his backroom staff.
The panthers will largely be depending on Borussia Dortmund forward, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the hunt for goals.Rated as the most fastest player on the ball, the 27 year old is expected to shine at home having made his name abroad as one of the best ten players in the world.
Apart from Aubamenyang, Gabon have a good goalkeeper, the veteran Didier Ovono, but their strength is attacking, with the Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina helping to supply the China-based forward Malick Evouna.
Guinea-Bissau
Facing them at Libreville are another nation not fancied to threaten the latter stages – Guinea Buissau,a side coached by local in the name of Baciro Cande who will be coaching the side for the second spell, the first one being between 2003-2011
Nicknamed the Djurtus they will be facing Gabon for the first time in AFCON or in any other competitive games.The side which is the only one in the tournament that is not having any local based player comes in the game as the better side in terms of the last matches they have played winning three out of four games.
Djurtus momentous journey to current achievement was crowned when they topped a qualifying group including Congo, Kenya and the 2012 champions Zambia.
Making past the knockout stages will be even more extraordinary, particularly given Guinea Bissau’s inadequate preparations.It was through the final efforts by the country’s presidency that the impovernished national federation received cash to pay players allowances.
It will be remembered that Djurtus are the only participating team that have not played any friendlies since qualification.
Their story in Afcon brings some heritage as they become the 39th country to participate in the finals since the first edition that was played in 1957.
Djurtus will be depending on Pacos Ferreia’s forward Cicero Semedo who once featured for Portugal U-21 national team.Having played fourteen times for his nation, the 30 year old Cemedo has netted six goals an impressive performance for the country that participated in less than 50 competitive matches in their history.
Apart from Semedo another player to watch is Zezinho, a former Sporting Lisbon midfielder who now plays in Greece with Lecadiakos.He is one of best free kick taker that Africa has ever seen.
