Ambitious Mouyouma targets semi-final stage with Gabon’s Panthers
Gabon head coach Thierry Mouyouma says his squad arrives in Morocco with confidence and determination as they prepare to begin their TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign with ambition to reach the semi-finals.
Speaking to CAFOnline, Mouyouma highlighted the calm mindset within the Panthers’ camp, drawing on his own experience as a former player to guide the team through the demands of 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 do from the arrival, the reception, the various CAF engagements and more. But on a technical level, we are trying to maintain the same concentration we had during both the AFCON and World Cup qualifiers,” said Mouyouma.
Drawn in a challenging group alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon and Mozambique, Gabon face stiff opposition in the group stage. However, the coach believes his players are mentally prepared to raise their level.
“Today we have a calm group with strong belief in its abilities. We achieved very good things during the qualifiers and we are building on that. But we are aware that this is the AFCON, and we will need to adjust our mindset to be more attacking and more aggressive,” the coach said.
Mouyouma also acknowledged the lingering disappointment of Gabon’s defeat to Nigeria in the African play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a setback that has fueled the team’s motivation.
“We are driven by a sense of revenge and fully determined to have a good AFCON. The World Cup disappointment was painful, and this is now the competition that allows us to raise our national flag high,” he added.
For the 50-year-old tactician, success at AFCON 2025 would mean surpassing Gabon’s historical best performances at the tournament.
“In Gabon’s history at the AFCON, our best results have always been quarter-final appearances. Breaking through that ceiling would be ideal for us,” Mouyouma said.
He adds; “Reaching the semi-finals would be a significant achievement and an improvement on 1996. But there is always the reality of the pitch, which ultimately decides.”
Gabon kick off their campaign against Cameroon on Wednesday at the Grand Stade d’Agadir in a 21h00 (local time) kick off.