Gabon head coach Thierry Mouyouma says his side’s upcoming World Cup play-off clash with Nigeria will be an important “test” and the Panthers prepared to face the Super Eagles.
Mouyouma’s men missed out on direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite an impressive campaign that saw them gather 25 points from a possible 30, losing just once in the process.
They finished second in Group F, one point behind Ivory Coast, who sealed automatic passage to the tournament.
“To get 25 points and not qualify is hard to take,” the 50-year-old coach told Sporting News Africa. “We are ready. It will be a good match to play (against Nigeria), and a good test for the 2025 AFCON.”
Nigeria booked their place in the play-offs with a commanding 4-0 victory over the Republic of Benin in Uyo on Tuesday.
That win lifted the Super Eagles into contention for the final African slot in the 2026 World Cup, with the winner of the Nigeria–Gabon clash set to face either Cameroon or DR Congo for a ticket to the global finals.
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Gabon head coach Thierry Mouyouma. Photo Credit: Gabon/X
While the fixture in Morocco on 13 November carries high intensity for both sides, Mouyouma insists his team will use it as both a challenge and an opportunity to fine-tune their preparations for the continental showpiece.
“It will be a good match to play,” he reiterated. “Playing against Nigeria, one of Africa’s biggest teams, helps us measure our progress and our readiness. It’s a good test for what’s ahead in December.”
The Gabon coach also expressed his faith in the leadership and experience of star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who continues to play a pivotal role in the national team setup.
“He plays a fundamental role as a technical leader,” Mouyouma told CAF Online. “He remains one of our captains and maintains exemplary motivation. 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.”
Aubameyang, now 36, rolled back the years with several decisive performances during Gabon’s qualification run, reaffirming his importance to a side looking to return to the World Cup for the first time in history.
Auba scored 4 goals and picked up a red card to help Gabon to a 4-3 victory against Gambia. Photo Credit: Getty Images
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For Mouyouma, the upcoming tie against Nigeria is about more than qualification, it’s about setting a benchmark.
“We respect Nigeria, but we also believe in our ability,” he said. “It’s matches like these that build character and show how far we’ve come as a team.”
The Nigeria versus Gabon World Cup play-off is scheduled to take place in Morocco on Thursday, 13 November.
