Bouanga hits first-half hat-trick as Gabon leapfrog Cote d’Ivoire in 2026 World Cup qualifiers

In-form striker Denis Bouanga hit a first-half hat-trick as Gabon swept past Seychelles 4-0 on Wednesday in Saint Pierre to go top of Group F of their 2026 World Cup qualifier.

The match, played at the neutral venue of the Cote d Or Sports Complex in the Mauritian city of Saint Pierre, saw the Panthers dominating the exchance from the start of the game.

The Los Angeles FC forward struck in the 4th, 34th and 38th minutes before substitute Yannis M’Bemba added a late fourth to round off an emphatic win.

The result moves the Panthers to 18 points from seven games, two clear of Côte d’Ivoire—who have a game in hand—before the pair meet in a potential group decider later in the window.

The Ivorians will play Burundi on Friday and will have the chance to return to the top of the group if they win the game. 

Bouanga’s treble also lifts him to the top of the qualifiers’ scoring chart on eight goals, ahead of Egypt’s Mohamed Salah.

Gabon started with intent and were ahead inside four minutes, Bouanga finishing smartly after the Seychelles defence was opened up down the left.

The captain doubled the advantage just after the half-hour, guiding home from close range, and completed his hat-trick four minutes later with another precise finish to effectively settle the contest before the interval.

Seychelles tried to wrestle back some control after the break but struggled to create clear chances.

A booking for Onfia on 61 minutes summed up a frustrating afternoon for the islanders, whose spirited work without the ball was repeatedly undone by Gabon’s movement in wide areas and the visitors’ superiority in transition.

With the game drifting towards a comfortable conclusion, Gabon’s bench provided the final flourish.

Introduced on 68 minutes, M’Bemba latched onto a late opening to make it 4–0 in the 89th minute, ensuring the scoreline reflected the visitors’ dominance.

Gabon now host Côte d’Ivoire next, knowing victory would keep qualification in their own hands.

Seychelles remain bottom without a point but will look to take positives from a more compact second-half display as they search for a first result of the campaign.