The Gabon national football team, known as the Panthers, has unveiled a robust 27-man roster in massive anticipation of their pivotal 2026 FIFA World Cup African playoff matchup against the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Head coach Thierry Mouyouma revealed the strong squad list during a press conference in Libreville on Thursday, according to reporting by Vanguard via AllAfrica.
The eagerly awaited one-off encounter is scheduled to take place at the C.S. Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, on Thursday, November 13, 2025.
This match is a crucial knockout fixture, as the winner of the Gabon vs. Nigeria tie will advance to play the victor of the Cameroon vs. DR Congo playoff in the following round.
Mouyouma’s selection is headlined by the inclusion of former Arsenal and Barcelona forward, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The 36-year-old, currently playing for Marseille, will be expected to lead the charge for the Gabonese attack, leveraging his vast European experience in the high-stakes game.
Aubameyang is joined by a contingent of veteran players designed to bolster the spine of the team. Key additions include the Lemina brothers, Noha Lemina and Mario Lemina (of Wolverhampton Wanderers), alongside Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles FC), who was Gabon’s highest goalscorer during the initial qualifying campaign with an impressive eight goals.
Other notable inclusions are Bruno Ecuele Manga in defense and Guélor Kanga in midfield.
Despite a strong showing in the 2026 World Cup qualifications, the Panthers narrowly missed out on automatic qualification, finishing second in Group E with 25 points, just one point behind rivals Côte d’Ivoire (26 points), which forced them into the playoff scenario.