…Thierry Mouyouma’s Gabon in group with Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Mozambique
Gabon head coach Thierry Mouyouma has laid out ambitious targets for the Panthers as they settle into Morocco ahead of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, revealing that a semi-final finish is firmly within his sights.
The 50-year-old tactician believes his squad has arrived with the right blend of focus, belief, and composure to compete at the highest level on the continental stage.
Drawing from his own experience as a former AFCON participant, Mouyouma explained how he is managing the demands that come with the tournament.
“I bring here my experience as a former player who has taken part in the Africa Cup of Nations. There is a lot to handle from the moment of arrival – the reception, CAF engagements, and more. But on a technical level, we are trying to maintain the same level of concentration we had during the AFCON and World Cup qualifiers,” he said.
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Gabon have been drawn into a challenging group alongside Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Mozambique, but Mouyouma insists confidence within the camp remains high.
“We have a calm group with strong belief in its abilities. We will need to adjust our mindset to be more attacking and more aggressive,” he noted.
The coach also revealed that Gabon’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has served as extra motivation heading into the tournament.
“We are driven by a sense of revenge and fully determined to have a good AFCON.”
With quarter-final exits representing Gabon’s best historical performances, Mouyouma acknowledged that a semi-final appearance would mark a significant milestone.
“Reaching the semi-finals would be a major achievement and an improvement on 1996. But in the end, the reality of the pitch is what decides.”
Gabon will begin their AFCON campaign against Cameroon on Wednesday in Agadir.
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