Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leads the cast for Gabon as the hosts became the first team to name their final 2017 Africa Cup of Nations squad.<\/p>\n
The team captain and Borussia Dortmund star will lead the home players out for the opening game of the tournament against debutants Guinea-Bissau on 14 January in Libreville.<\/p>\n
Gabon have also named Sunderland midfielder Didier Ndong despite the player being left out of November’s World Cup qualifier in Mali.<\/p>\n
Ndong was in the capital city Libreville but failed to turn up for international duty ahead of the Mali game last month, forcing the Gabonese Football Federation [Fegafoot] to send him back to England.<\/p>\n
But a remorseful Ndong, who held clear-the-air talks with Fegafoot has been included in a 23-man Panthers squad.<\/p>\n
Other names to make the final party include Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina, Bruno Ecu\u00e9l\u00e9 Manga of Cardiff City and China-based striker Malick Evouna.<\/p>\n
Gabon coach Jos\u00e9 Antonio Camacho included three domestic-based stars and also placed three players on standby for the biennial Africa Cup of Nations, which runs between 14 January and 5 February.<\/p>\n
The 2012 quarterfinalists are the first of the 16 participants to announce a final squad for the tournament on home soil.<\/p>\n
As well as taking on Guinea-Bissau in Group A, the hosts will also face four-time winners Cameroon and Burkina Faso, runners-up in 2013.<\/p>\n
Gabon will be hosting the continental tournament for the second time. They previously co-organised the competition with Equatorial Guinea in 2012.<\/p>\n
Squad:<\/b><\/p>\n
Goalkeepers:<\/b> Didier Ovono (Oostende, Belgium), Yves St\u00e9phane Bits\u00e9ki Moto (CF Mounana), Anthony Mfa Mezui (unattached).<\/p>\n
Defenders:<\/b> Lloyd Palun (Red Star, France), Andr\u00e9 Biyogho Poko (Karabukspor, Turkey), Aaron Appindangoye (Stade Lavallois, France), Franck Perrin Obambou (Stade Mandji), Bruno Ecu\u00e9l\u00e9 Manga (Cardiff City, Wales), Yoann Wachter (CS Sedan Ardennes, France), Johann Serge Obiang (Troyes, France), Benjamin Z\u00e9 Ondo (Mosta FC, Malta)<\/p>\n
Midfielders:<\/b> Mario Ren\u00e9 Junior Lemina (Juventus, Italy), Junior Serge Martinsson Ngouali (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden), Levy Cl\u00e9ment Madinda (Gimn\u00e0stic, Spain), Gu\u00e9lor Kanga Kaku (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Merlin Tandjigora (Meixian Hakka FC, China), Didier Ibrahim Ndong (Sunderland, England), Samson Mbingui (Raja Casablanca, Morocco)<\/p>\n
Forwards:<\/b> Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Malick Evouna (Tianjin Teda FC, China), Denis Athanase Bouanga (Tours, France), Serge Kevyn Aboue Angoue (Uniao Leiria, Portugal), Cedric Ondo Biyoghe (CF Mounana)<\/p>\n
Standby:<\/b> Axel Mey\u00e9 (Eskisehirspor, Turkey), Johan Lengoualama (Raja Casablanca, Morocco), Donald Nz\u00e9 (AS Pelican)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leads the cast for Gabon as the hosts became the first team to name their final 2017 Africa Cup of Nations squad. The team captain and Borussia Dortmund star will lead the home players out for the opening game of the tournament against debutants Guinea-Bissau on 14 January in Libreville. Gabon have also […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":280266,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[142],"tags":[2748,3292,14548,3294],"yoast_head":"\n