Pepe said that "coming to play in Gabon is a great experience" for the players of the Portuguese national team on the eve of the friendly match Portugal will play against the country's national squad.

"No human being can help but be touched by a trip and game like this. Being here in Gabon is a fantastic opportunity for all of us", asserted the centre-back from Real Madrid after visiting a school for deaf-mute children in the Gabon capital, Libreville, along with Bruno Alves and Silvestre Varela, the national team coach, Paul Bento and Gabonese international, Daniel Cousin.

In an initiative of the foundation supported by the First Lady of Gabon, Sylvia Bongo, Pepe, who was applauded by several hundred children from a neighbouring school, was happy to spend a few minutes playing football with the deaf-mute children.

"It's a very difficult situation they live in, but there's always hope and faith that these people can move forward and leave such a desperate situation behind them", Pepe said.

Born in a very humble town in north-east Brazil, Portuguese national Pepe explained that what he had seen in Gabon "is very similar to my experiences in Brazil. Gabon has the potential to develop in the future if the youngsters are given opportunities". Pepe thanked the Gabonese people for their amazing welcome.