Gabon players warming up during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON match between Cameroon and Gabon at the Adrar Stadium, Agadir on the 24 December 2025 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Saturday Dec 27, 2025. 13:00
Gabon head coach Thierry Mouyouma will be demanding an improvement from his team when they face Mozambique in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group F clash at the Adrar Stadium on Sunday.
Kick-off is at 2.30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)
The Panthers kicked off their campaign in Morocco with a 1-0 defeat to neighbours Cameroon at the same venue on December 24 and they were on the back foot as early as the sixth minute after Karl Etta Eyong broke the deadlock.
Mouyouma was forced to go to his bench earlier than anticipated as he brought on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mario Lemina in the 33rd minute in a bid to get back into the game.
But the Indomitable Lions held onto their narrow lead and Mouyouma’s side are now looking to get their AFCON challenge up and running against the Mambas in what is the first meeting between the two teams in a decade.
Gabon ran out 2-0 victors over Mozambique in a 2018 World Cup qualifier on 14 November 2015, having bounced back from a 1-0 loss to the Southeast Africans three days earlier.
“We didn’t have a good start to the match, which made things difficult for us. We conceded a goal from a clearance and a poor defensive alignment,” Mouyouma’s assistant, Cedric Moubamba, said.
“The introductions of Aubameyang and Lemina were planned, but the course of the match meant they came on earlier. And we saw how much they helped us with their experience.
“We were determined to win the match. But there is a truth on the pitch. Cameroon played well and defended their lead well. It’s up to us to get back to work and improve for the next game.”
The Mambas are also aiming to put their first points on the board in Group F after being beaten 1-0 by defending champions Ivory Coast on December 24.
Chiquinho Conde’s side have now failed to win their last four matches after warming up for the tournament with a 1-0 loss to Morocco and a 2-2 draw with Chad in November before going down 4-1 to Angola on December 17.
Mozambique have never made it out of the group stages at AFCON and they didn’t win a single game in Ivory Coast last year after picking up just two points from their three matches.