EXPERIENCE BLENDED: ECUELE MANGA JOINS AUBAMEYANG FOR AFCON 2025 PUSH
Thierry Mouyouma announces Gabon's strong AFCON squad, led by a resurgent Aubameyang. The coach boldly aims for a knockout qualification after just two matches.
Gabon's national team coach, Thierry Mouyouma, has announced his 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leading the charge.
Mouyouma has called up a strong squad for the 35th edition of AFCON, featuring key players like Denis Bouanga from Los Angeles FC, veteran defender Bruno Ecuele Manga from Paris 13 Atletico, and midfielder Mario Lemina from Galatasaray.
Aubameyang is heading to AFCON after a great season with Olympique de Marseille.
In Ligue 1, the former Arsenal captain played 13 games, scoring five goals and making five assists. He also played six times in the UEFA Champions League, scoring three goals and getting four assists.
Malick Evouna is back in the team. Aubameyang retired from international soccer in 2022, with 72 appearances and 30 goals. But he changed his mind a year later and came back to the national team.
Urie-Michel Mboula of Metz is in the squad even though he's coming back from an injury and isn't fully fit. Loufilou of Al-Mina’a, who didn't play in the second half of this year’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, also made the team.
Malick Evouna, who has 32 caps but hasn't played for the national team since 2019, is back after a good run with Mangasport.
Mouyouma said his main goal at AFCON is to get to the knockout stage by the second game. The Panthers, who have reached two AFCON quarterfinals, are in a group with 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 has never been to a World Cup but has played in seven Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
Here’s Gabon’s final 28-man squad for AFCON 2025:
Goalkeepers: Mbaba Loyce Marius, Ngoubi Demba Anse, and Bekale Junior.
Défenseurs : 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, and Ndong Ibrahim.
Forwards: Shavy Babicka, Avelrant Teddy, Denis Bouanga, Essang-Matou Edlin, Malick Evouna, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Royce Openda, Jim Allevinah.
CARLO ANCELOTTI ISSUES TWO-MONTH WORLD CUP ULTIMATUM TO SANTOS STAR NEYMAR
Carlo Ancelotti confirms Neymar has two months to prove his fitness for the 2026 World Cup. Read the full Selecao update.
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Everyone’s talking about Neymar again as the 2026 World Cup edges closer. It’s the same old debate: does he still have a spot with Brazil? But this time there’s real hope on the table. Carlo Ancelotti’s left the door open for Neymar to make the cut. Even though Neymar hasn’t made the latest squads, he’s obviously still on the minds of the Selecao coaches.
Here’s the situation: Neymar's been battling injuries since he tore his ACL. He missed the season’s first 10 games after knee surgery last December. He got back on the field, but fitness issues and a suspension meant he still watched from the sidelines quite a bit. Still, Ancelotti isn’t ruling him out. In an interview with L’Equipe, Ancelotti emphasised Neymar’s reputation but also made something very clear: if Neymar wants the World Cup, he needs to earn it.
Talent isn't a question; nobody doubts Neymar’s skill. What matters for Ancelotti is being fit. No exceptions, no matter how big the star. “Neymar can come back. I’ve said it before, and it’s simple: only physically ready players get called up,” Ancelotti said flat-out. “His recovery from the knee injury is going well; he’s scoring again. He just needs to keep pushing and get fitter. He’s headed in the right direction.”
With 79 goals in 128 matches, Neymar has shaped Brazil’s football history. Ancelotti gets that fans want to see Neymar try one more time for the one trophy he’s never won. “Neymar belongs to Brazil’s football story. He’s hugely talented, so obviously people hope he’ll help us win the next World Cup. Right now, he’s under assessment not just by the CBF but by me, too. He’s got two months left to show he has what it takes for the World Cup,” Ancelotti said.
Neymar’s chance to prove himself is coming fast, with big matches for Santos ahead. He’s expected to start this Saturday when they face Atlético-MG at Vila Belmiro. If Neymar stays healthy and sharp, that final World Cup dream is still alive.
BRAD FRIEDEL LABELS WESTON MCKENNIE THE "MOST TALENTED" USMNT PLAYER OVER PULISIC
Brad Friedel sparks debate by naming Weston McKennie as more talented than Christian Pulisic for the USMNT in 2026.
Former USMNT goalkeeper Brad Friedel doesn’t think Christian Pulisic is the top American player right now. In his eyes, Weston McKennie is the most talented option Mauricio Pochettino's got, even though Pulisic usually gets all the attention as “Captain America.”
Pulisic does have his fans, but he hasn’t scored for the national team since 2024 and was pretty quiet during the last international break. The US had a rough time, losing 5-2 to Belgium and 2-0 to Portugal. Those friendlies were supposed to get the team ready for big opponents at the 2026 World Cup, but honestly, they just brought up even more doubts. McKennie was one of the few players who actually looked up for it, and Friedel is absolutely convinced he’s the best talent the US has right now.
The team was missing some key names, too. Miles Robinson, Chris Richards, and Tyler Adams were all out. Richards made it back for the Portugal game, but Adams’ absence in midfield was impossible to ignore. Friedel says people are making too much of these recent defeats. He thinks you have to judge the team on how they do in big tournaments, especially this summer. Still, he admits Adams is the one who keeps everyone connected, and when he’s out there, it makes McKennie better, which ends up making life easier for Pulisic.
Pochettino has a headache picking his squad for the World Cup. He’s still not set on his goalkeeper, his defence, his midfield, or even the attack. According to Friedel, no matter who fills those spots, the USMNT’s hopes really come down to what McKennie and Adams bring to the table.
Talking to Express Sport via Oddspedia, Friedel said, “The U.S. has always needed all our best guys. We’ve never been the kind of team that can go 30 deep and not lose quality except in 2002. That was the only year when anyone could’ve started, and we wouldn’t have missed a beat. Tyler is the glue for the team. He doesn’t care if you’re seven feet tall; if you’re not pulling your weight, he’ll call you out. He’s just that type of player.”
Friedel went on, “I coached a lot of these guys when I ran the under-19s. Weston McKennie is, for me, the most talented footballer we have. He can do so many things, but he needs to be fit and focused. With Juventus this season, he’s looked sharp, and he’s carrying that form into the World Cup. If he’s got Tyler alongside him, no matter where Weston ends up playing, Tyler keeps him disciplined. You always get the best version of McKennie when Adams is on the field. If those two are fit and playing well, they open up the space that lets Christian do what he does best.”
Pochettino is staring down a huge challenge to get this team ready for the World Cup. He knows they’re nowhere near their peak, but he keeps insisting they’re not far off either. If Adams can stay healthy, something that’s been tough for him lately, that would take a lot of pressure off the coach. Without him, it shows. With him, everything just seems to fall into place.
