EDITOR NOTE: This article is a translated from the original written in French by Omar Chraibi for Pan-Africa Football.
Franceville, the capital of the Haut-Ogooué region in Gabon, was hit by a violent thunderstorm on Monday evening, disrupting the arrival of the Gabon national team as they prepared for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The flight from Libreville was canceled due to the bad weather, causing a considerable delay for most of the players. It wasn't until the following afternoon that the full squad was able to begin their preparations for the match against Seychelles, scheduled for Matchday 5 of Group F.
Gabon, without captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is suspended for this match, had its basic plans altered. The training camp initially scheduled in Bongoville was replaced by sessions on the pitch at the Franceville stadium. Under the direction of Thierry Mouyouma, the staff and players quickly found their bearings.
André Biyogo Poko, one of the squad's key players, expressed his total commitment after today's training session: "We will give our all against both Seychelles and Kenya," he said, emphasizing the squad's determination despite the setbacks.
The Panthers' goal remains unchanged: to secure a victory against Seychelles to maintain their chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Currently, Gabon sits second in Group F with nine points, just behind Côte d'Ivoire (10 points), in a highly competitive group where every match and every point are crucial to Gabon's ambitions.
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