Aubameyang, Mouyouma fire warning ahead of next months WCQ playoff against Nigeria
By Ed Emeanua
Gabon captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and ‘The Panthers’ manager Thierry Mouyouma have talked up a note firing warnings to oppositions ahead of FIFA WCQ playoffs.
They assure Gabon will leave no stone unturned when ‘The Panthers’ clash with Nigeria in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification playoffs.
Gabon captain and Olympique Marseille striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang promises stiff opposition when he leads out Gabon against Nigeria in their semi-final game against Nigeria on November 13 in Morocco.
“We want to go to the World Cup and, to get there, we have to win games,” Aubameyang told The Standard after Gabon’s 2-0 win against Burundi on Tuesday.
“I’m very motivated, and when you have the chance to go to the World Cup, you have to be even more motivated.”
Fifty-year-old boss Mouyouma, a former Panthers skipper hopes to unleash the core of his squad in upcoming fixtures in hope of building national pride and unity.
“He (Aubameyang) plays a fundamental role as a technical leader. He remains one of our captains and maintains exemplary motivation,” Mouyouma told CAFonline in a recent interview.
“In my view, he should have won the African Player of The Year award at a time when his statistics spoke for themselves. For fifteen years, no African striker has shown such consistency.
“Scoring four goals in a qualifying match is exceptional. He proves that age is just a number. His mentality, desire, and professionalism benefit everyone, players and staff alike.
Gabon’s manager also feels other veterans like Denis Bouanga and Bruno Ecuélé Manga are important to achieving his football philosophy with Panthers.
“They are essential in passing on experience,” he said of Bouanga and Ecuélé Manga.
“With players like Mario Lemina, Aaron Appindangoyé, Guelor Kanga, or Jim Allevinah, they form the core of the team.
“Their influence goes beyond the pitch: they bring discipline, rigor, and a model of behavior. This disciplinary reconstruction is one of our greatest achievements.”
The upcoming World Cup playoff is a knockout tournament that includes Cameroon and DR Congo, with all matches to be played in Morocco. The winner of the tournament will move on to the intercontinental playoffs for a second chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Here is a summary of the African play-off format:
|
Date |
Teams |
Winner Advances To |
| Semi-final 1 |
November 13, 2025 |
Nigeria vs. Gabon |
Final |
| Semi-final 2 |
November 13, 2025 |
Cameroon vs. DR Congo |
Final |
| Final |
November 16, 2025 |
Winner Semi-final 1 vs. Winner Semi-final 2 |
Intercontinental Play-offs |
Gabon, along with DR Congo, Cameroon, and Nigeria, were the four best runners-up in the CAF first round of qualifying and will compete in the play-offs. Gabon will face Nigeria in their semi-final match, while Cameroon will play DR Congo. These single-elimination matches determine which team will represent Africa in the inter-confederation play-offs.
Gabon has demonstrated sterner performances in the qualifiers, with Bouanga among the top scorers in the CAF qualifiers. Gabon’s star striker Aubameyang has also shown excellent form, including scoring all four goals in a recent thrilling win against Gambia.
However, Gabon’s away form might be a factor, as all playoff matches will be played on neutral ground in Morocco.
What is known about Gabon’s recent World Cup qualifiers
- Most recent squad: An announcement from late August 2025 detailing the squad for World Cup qualifying matches against Seychelles and Côte d’Ivoire included foreign-born players such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mario Lemina, and Denis Bouanga.
- A recent top performance: In an October 2025 match against Gambia, Aubameyang scored four goals to lead the team to a 4–3 comeback victory.
- The need for playoffs: After the last matchday in October 2025, Gabon is competing for a playoff spot as one of the best runners-up in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) World Cup qualifiers
Gabon has successfully secured a spot in the CAF play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.
The Panthers finished as the runner-up in Group F, one point behind Ivory Coast, to advance to the second round. The African play-offs, hosted in Morocco, will determine which CAF team participates in the FIFA Play-Off Tournament for the 2026 World Cup.
Three new players were included in Gabon’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Seychelles and Kenya earlier this year, according to Thierry Mouyouma. The players are:
|
Position |
| Nzé Samaké |
Midfielder |
| Yoann Nani Nono |
Forward |
| Mobili Van |
Forward |
According to CAFOnline.com, André Poko also returned to the squad for the qualifiers.
