Debutants Comoros out to surprise Gabon

Youssouf M'Changama of Comoros

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Jan 09, 2022. 15:00

Comoros will face off with Gabon in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) match on Monday.

Kick-off is at 21:00 CAT.

The Group C encounter is set to be played at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in the capital city of Cameroon, Yaoundé.

2021 AFCON GROUPS

The Coelacanths are making their first-ever appearance in Africa’s biggest football tournament following a successful qualifying campaign.

The players to watch out for in this Comoros side are El Fardou Ben Nabouhane and Youssouf M’Changama, who are influential players for the COSAFA side.

The Coelacanths are under the tutelage of France-born coach Amir Abdou, who has been in charge of the team since 2014.

2021 AFCON FIXTURES

Meanwhile, Gabon are will be making their eighth appearance in the competition and they are considered to be the favourites against Comoros.

The Panthers will look to the experienced duo of André Biyogo Poko and Denis Bouanga with some of their key players missing.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mario Lemina have been ruled out of the game against Comoros after testing positive for COVID-19.

It will be a battle between two French coaches as Gabon are also under the guidance of a French tactician in Patrice Neveu, who is well-traveled.

The last time Comoros faced Gabon was in November 2016 and the two teams played to a 1-1 draw in a friendly match at the Stade Olympique d’El Menzah in Tunisia.