The brilliant forward’s father, Pierre-François Aubameyang, featured for the Panthers at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia, in which the Panthers lost their first match 0-3 to Nigeria and crashed out at the group stage, as the Eagles went on to win their second continental title.
Mouyouma is likely to stick to his regular army, which puts Loyce Mbaba in goal, with youngster Jacques Ekomie alongside Bruno Manga, Mick Omfia, and Anthony Oyono at the rear, and Guélor Kanga, Mario Lemina, and Didier Ndong in midfield.
Aubameyang, who scored all four goals in the dismantling of The Gambia away in the qualifying series, will have regular partners Denis Bouanga and Noah Lemina as co-conspirators at the fore.
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Mouyouma has revealed that his Panthers are contemplating the quick, short passing game to force Nigeria’s matadors to chase the game, while Chelle has kept his option to his chest as the fiery encounter looms.
Nigeria has been victorious in five of nine previous encounters with Gabon at the senior men’s level, dating back 60 years, when Nigeria won and drew friendly matches played over two days in Libreville. Gabon’s only triumph – a 2-1 win in a World Cup qualifier on 25th June 1989 – ultimately cost Nigeria a ticket to Italia ’90 as the Eagles failed to secure the draw needed against Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions in Yaounde on the final day of the series.
Three of the nine matches have been drawn, including a Germany 2006 World Cup qualifier, but Thursday’s game cannot end in a draw, as a winner must emerge to proceed to Sunday’s Final.
SUPER EAGLES, PANTHERS IN HISTORY
28 Aug 1965: Gabon 2-2 Nigeria (Friendly)
29 Aug 1965: Gabon 1-4 Nigeria (Friendly)
02 Mar 1983: Gabon 0-0 Nigeria (Friendly)
07 Jan 1989: Nigeria 1-0 Gabon (WC qualifier)
25 June 1989: Gabon 2-1 Nigeria (WC qualifier)
26 Mar 1994: Nigeria 3-0 Gabon (AFCON finals)
21 Nov 1999: Gabon 0-2 Nigeria (Friendly)
09 Oct 2004: Gabon 1-1 Nigeria (WC qualifier)
26 Mar 2005: Nigeria 2-0 Gabon (WC qualifier)
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