Ahead of the 35th edition of the AFCON, Mouyouma has summoned a star-studded squad which includes Denis Bouanga of Major League Soccer (MLS) club Los Angeles FC, veteran defender Bruno Ecuele Manga of French Championnat National club Paris 13 Atletico, and midfield maestro Mario Lemina of Galatasaray.
Aubameyang will head into the AFCON at the back of a superb campaign with Olympique de Marseille.
So far in Ligue 1, the former Arsenal captain has managed 13 matches, scored five goals, and provided five assists. The 36-year-old has further featured six times in the UEFA Champions League campaign, notching three goals and providing four assists.
Malick Evouna returns to squad
In 2022, Aubameyang announced his retirement from international football, having made a total of 72 appearances and scored 30 goals. However, a year later, he announced he had changed his mind and would return to the national side.
Urie-Michel Mboula of Metz has been named despite returning from injury and lacking match fitness, while Loufilou of Al-Mina’a, who did not feature in the second half of this year’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers has made the cut.
Malick Evouna – capped 32 times but missing from national duty since 2019 – returns after earning his recall through strong domestic form with Mangasport.
In a recent interview, Mouyouma stated his primary target at the AFCON was to secure qualification to the knockout stage by the second match. The Panthers, who reached two AFCON quarterfinals, in 1996 and 2012, have been drawn alongside Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Mozambique.
“It’s a very interesting group. In Africa, there is no good or bad draw: it all depends on the final result. With a team progressing mentally, technically, tactically, and physically, starting against Cameroon is an advantage,” Mouyouma told CAFOnline.com.
“It will be a Central African derby. Then we face Mozambique. My objective is to secure qualification by the second match so that we can rotate the squad for the third game.”
Gabon, who have never qualified for a World Cup, have participated in seven Africa Cup of Nations tournaments including 1994, 1996, 2000, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2017.
Gabon’s final 28-man squad for AFCON 2025;
Goalkeepers: Mbaba Loyce Marius, Ngoubi Demba Anse, Bekale Junior.
Defenders: Oyono Antony, Oyono Jérémy, Obiang Johann, Ekomie Jacques, Appindangoye A., Ecuele Manga Bruno, Moucketou Alex, Kila Onfia Mick, Do Marcolino Jonathan, Mboula Uriel-Michel.
Midfielders: Mario Lemina, Nze Samake, Kanga Guelor, Bocoum Eric, Poko B. André, Loufilou Ruben, Ndong Ibrahim.
Forwards: Shavy Babicka, Avelrant Teddy, Denis Bouanga, Essang-Matou Edlin, Malick Evouna, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Royce Openda, Jim Allevinah.
