Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will look to lead his team and make the right headlines after recent times against the Comorian players being the first to ever grace the tournament for their country. Who will be the first underdogs to put points on the board?
Africa Cup of Nations – Group C
Monday 10 January
Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium
21:00
To Win
Comoros 42/10 | Draw 21/10 Gabon 7/10
Comoros
A first AFCON appearance for Comoros, this matchup will be a historic moment for the nation. None of these players have history in the tournament, neither do the coaching staff. The Comorian team are young with just three players over 30, and the youngest being 18-year-old forward Ibtoih Hadhari playing for Marseille.
The nation has not proved itself a formidable one, but rather are sure to bring the attitude of proving themselves to the table. Two wins and three draws in AFCON qualification, one of which came from a 0-0 home result against Egypt shows the determination the squad has in getting a result through hard work.
Tactically, Comoros is not competing with the likes of Egypt and the like, but man-for-man marking and hard running has brought them to this point.
Gabon
When you hear the name Gabon, the Panthers, one name comes to mind, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. His name has been ringing in the headlines for all the wrong reasons as of late, but a return to his roots might just be what the doctor ordered for the lethal forward.
Captaining the squad and scoring the crucial goals for qualification would mean the world to the superstar, and the lack of game time at a domestic level should burn bright when on the field for Gabon.
The sport cannot be played alone and players like Brighton’s Ulrick Ella and Maritzburg United’s Nathaniel Mbouro will be there to battle alongside him. While the World Cup qualifications didn’t go to plan for Gabon, the AFCON will be the chance to test their skills against the best in the continent.
Prediction: Gabon Win (7/10)
A tight affair lies ahead for both sides, but in this encounter a clinical finisher can be a world of difference. Especially in a player with the quality Aubameyang possesses. Ghana and Morocco will be an extremely difficult task for either side, so giving their all in this fixture is the only option. At 7/10 Gabon is one for the AFCON multiples.
