Gabon Coach Mouyouma, Loves The Tag ‘Under dog’ Ahead Nigeria Clash
Written by Alonge Akinlolu on 12 — 11
As Gabon prepares to face Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup playoff, head coach Thierry Mouyouma says he’s fully embracing the “outsider” tag and believes it could work in their favour.
Speaking to Afrik Foot, Mouyouma admitted the Super Eagles are the clear favourites but insisted that Gabon’s underdog status brings less pressure and more hunger.
“We know Nigeria are favourites, and that’s fine. The underdog label suits us perfectly,” he said confidently.
Gabon enjoyed an impressive qualifying run, collecting 25 points from a possible 30, losing only once to Côte d’Ivoire and finishing just one point behind the Elephants. That strong performance, according to Mouyouma, shows the team’s growing maturity and resilience.
Still, the coach pointed out areas that need tightening up before facing a heavyweight like Nigeria.
“We must manage our games better, defend set pieces more strongly, and deal with aerial balls, Nigeria’s strengths,” he explained.
Mouyouma also praised his top stars, describing captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as “the greatest player in Gabon’s history” and a vital leader both on and off the pitch. He highlighted Denis Bouanga’s blistering form too, calling him “an effective, spectacular player” after his standout performances for LAFC and Gabon in the qualifiers.
Looking beyond the Nigeria tie, Mouyouma reflected on Gabon’s challenging AFCON 2025 group, which includes Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mozambique.
“It’s a tough group, but we’ll stick to our principles. We believe we can advance,” he said.
