With only a few days to the kick-off on January 14, AFCON 2017 hosts Gabon are putting their finishing touches in their preparations, and The Panthers are confident they will not disappoint the home crowd.

The players hope that playing in front of a partisan home crowd will give them extra edge over their opponents.

“Those that have their eyes fixed on the national team can count on us to deliver, and as I say, we will give the best, we will do everything to make the party beautiful,“assures midfielder Levy Madinda.

Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will carry the hopes of the central African nation on his shoulders, alongside veteran goalkeeper Didier Ovono and Sunderland’s holding midfielder Didier Ndong.

Gabon’s most significant AFCON achievement is the second-round finish they achieved as co-hosts in 2012.

They play the opening game against Guinea Bissau in Libreville, under the charges of former Spain manager Jose Antonio Camacho who replaced ex-Portugal international Jorge Costa in November 2016.