Funny day at the office for Pierre-Emerick Aubayemang. Author of a high-quality start to the season with Olympique de Marseille, the 35-year-old striker was in all the shots with Gabon this Friday, during the penultimate day of the CAN qualifiers.
“PEA” thus signed nothing less than a quadruplet (2nd, 42nd, 62nd, 78th). This was necessary because Gabon, after leading 1-0 then 2-1 in Gambia, was trailing 3-2 at the start of the second half after goals from Minteh (23rd) and Sidibeh (45th + 2, 47th).
The Panthers ended up winning 4-3 in Nairobi (Kenya), but the day was accompanied by two bad news. Direct opponent of Gabon in this group, CĂ´te d'Ivoire did not provide details to win in Seychelles (0-7). And the other black point is the red card received by Aubemayang at the end of the match, for two yellow cards (79th, 85th).
Aubameyang to be suspended
It is therefore without “Aubame” that Gabon will have to play its last qualifying match, Tuesday, against Burundi. We will absolutely have to win, and hope that Côte d'Ivoire does not win against Kenya at the same time.
Otherwise, Gabon will have to settle for second place. And the ticket for the 2026 World Cup will have to be won during a very perilous series of play-offs.
