Gabon national football team facts for kids
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Nickname(s) | Les Panthères (The Panthers) |
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Association | Gabonese Football Federation (Fédération Gabonaise de Football, FEGAFOOT) | |
Confederation | CAF (Africa) | |
Sub-confederation | UNIFFAC (Central Africa) | |
Head coach | Thierry Mouyouma | |
Captain | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | |
Most caps | Didier Ovono (112) | |
Top scorer | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (35) | |
Home stadium | Stade d'Angondjé | |
FIFA code | GAB | |
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FIFA ranking | ||
Current | 85 ![]() |
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Highest | 30 (July 2009) | |
Lowest | 125 (April–May 2003) | |
Elo ranking | ||
Current | 103 ![]() |
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Highest | 63 (November 1996) | |
Lowest | 123 (June 2004) | |
First international | ||
![]() ![]() (Madagascar; 13 April 1960) |
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Biggest win | ||
![]() ![]() (Libreville, Gabon; 2 April 1995) |
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Biggest defeat | ||
![]() ![]() (Abidjan, Ivory Coast; 26 December 1961) ![]() ![]() (Rabat, Morocco; 15 November 2006) |
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Africa Cup of Nations | ||
Appearances | 9 (first in 1994) | |
Best result | Quarter-finals, 1996 and 2012 |
The Gabon national football team is also known as Les Panthères (The Panthers). This team represents the country of Gabon in men's international soccer games. The Gabonese Football Federation manages the team.
Gabon has never played in the FIFA World Cup. However, they have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations nine times. Gabon is a member of both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Gabon Football History
Early Years (1960s)
Gabon's first game was on April 13, 1960. They played in the first Friendship Games tournament in Madagascar. They lost their first match 5–4 to Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso).
In December 1961, they played in the same tournament again. They lost to Senegal and Cameroon. Soon after, the Gabonese Football Federation was created to help grow the sport.
Their first win came on July 14, 1962, when they beat Congo 3–1 at home. Gabon joined FIFA in 1966 and CAF in 1967.
1970s Football Journey
Gabon tried to qualify for the 1972 African Cup of Nations but lost to Ivory Coast. They also tried for the 1972 Olympic football tournament but withdrew.
In 1976, Gabon hosted the first Central African Games. Their football team did very well. They beat Burundi 4–1 and Rwanda 3–0. They also drew 0–0 with Cameroon.
Gabon reached the semi-finals but lost to Congo. They finished in third place, which was a great achievement for them.
Recent Years (2010s)
In the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, Gabon surprised many by beating Cameroon 1–0. They had a good chance to move forward but were eliminated because of how many goals they scored.
Gabon co-hosted the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. They won all their group matches, beating Niger, Morocco, and Tunisia. They reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 1996.
In a thrilling match, Gabon lost to Mali in a penalty shootout. Their star player, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, scored three goals in the tournament.
For the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Gabon did not make it to the play-offs. They finished third in their group.
In the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, Gabon qualified by topping their group. However, they were knocked out in the group stage despite winning their first game 2–0.
Team Look: Kit Sponsors
The Gabon national team has had different companies make their uniforms over the years.
Kit providers | Period |
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2006–2010 |
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2012–2016 |
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2017–2018 |
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2019–2023 |
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2024– |
Latest Matches and Schedule
Here are the results of Gabon's matches in the last year and upcoming games.
Win Draw Loss Fixture
2024 Matches
22 March Friendly | Senegal ![]() |
3–0 | ![]() |
Amiens, France |
20:30 UTC+1 |
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Stadium: Stade de la Licorne Referee: Stéphanie Frappart (France) |
7 June 2026 World Cup qualification | Ivory Coast ![]() |
1–0 | ![]() |
Korhogo, Ivory Coast |
19:00 UTC±0 | Stadium: Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium Attendance: 17,522 Referee: Omar Abdulkadir Artan (Somalia) |
11 June 2026 World Cup qualification | Gabon ![]() |
3–2 | ![]() |
Franceville, Gabon |
20:00 UTC+1 |
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Stadium: Stade de Franceville Referee: Sadok Selmi (Tunisia) |
6 September 2025 AFCON qualification | Morocco ![]() |
4–1 | ![]() |
Agadir, Morocco |
20:00 UTC+1 |
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Stadium: Adrar Stadium Attendance: 38,000 Referee: Dahane Beida (Mauritania) |
10 September 2025 AFCON qualification | Gabon ![]() |
2–0 | ![]() |
Franceville, Gabon |
17:00 UTC+1 |
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Stadium: Stade de Franceville Attendance: 8,679 Referee: Peter Waweru (Kenya) |
Upcoming 2025 Matches
20 March 2026 World Cup qualification | Gabon ![]() |
3–0 | ![]() |
Franceville, Gabon |
20:00 UTC+1 | Stadium: Stade de Franceville Referee: Mehrez Melki (Tunisia) |
23 March 2026 World Cup qualification | Kenya ![]() |
1–2 | ![]() |
Nairobi, Kenya |
16:00 UTC+3 |
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Stadium: Nyayo National Stadium Referee: Ibrahim Mutaz (Libya) |
September 2026 World Cup qualification | Seychelles ![]() |
v | ![]() |
September 2026 World Cup qualification | Gabon ![]() |
v | ![]() |
October 2026 World Cup qualification | Gambia ![]() |
v | ![]() |
October 2026 World Cup qualification | Gabon ![]() |
v | ![]() |
28 December 2025 AFCON RR | Gabon ![]() |
v | ![]() |
Agadir, Morocco |
20:30 | Stadium: Adrar Stadium |
31 December 2025 AFCON GS | Gabon ![]() |
v | ![]() |
Marrakesh, Morocco |
20:30 | Stadium: Marrakesh Stadium |
Coaching Staff

The coaching staff helps the team train and prepare for matches.
Team Players
Current Squad
These players were chosen for friendly matches in June 2025.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
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1 | GK | François Bekale | 15 February 2002 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
GK | Loyce Mbaba | 4 May 1998 | 9 | 0 | ![]() |
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GK | Junior Noubi | 20 June 1999 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
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3 | DF | Anthony Oyono | 12 April 2001 | 24 | 0 | ![]() |
5 | DF | Bruno Ecuele Manga | 16 July 1988 | 96 | 8 | ![]() |
13 | DF | Mick Onfia | 10 December 2000 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
19 | DF | Jacques Ekomié | 19 August 2003 | 13 | 0 | ![]() |
DF | Johann Obiang | 5 July 1993 | 47 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Jérémy Oyono | 12 April 2001 | 9 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Urie-Michel Mboula | 30 April 2003 | 8 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Oumar Bagnama | 19 May 2001 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Larry Jonathan Ekwa | 3 February 2006 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Mathéo Moussa | 14 November 2005 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
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12 | MF | Guélor Kanga | 1 August 1990 | 72 | 5 | ![]() |
15 | MF | Samaké Nzé Bagnama | 28 June 2002 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
23 | MF | Shorla Aboghe | 20 May 2005 | 1 | 1 | ![]() |
MF | André Poko | 7 March 1993 | 78 | 4 | ![]() |
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MF | Mario Lemina | 1 September 1993 | 36 | 3 | ![]() |
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MF | Serge-Junior Ngouali | 23 January 1992 | 17 | 0 | ![]() |
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MF | Clench Loufilou | 12 April 1999 | 13 | 0 | ![]() |
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FW | Teddy Averlant | 2 October 1999 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
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MF | Meshak Babanzila | 11 June 2001 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
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FW | Noha Lemina | 17 June 2005 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
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7 | FW | Van Mobili | 4 December 2007 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
18 | FW | Jim Allevinah | 27 February 1995 | 32 | 8 | ![]() |
22 | FW | Yoann Nani Nono | 17 October 1993 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
FW | David Sambissa | 11 January 1996 | 17 | 0 | ![]() |
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FW | Orphé Mbina | 2 November 2000 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
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FW | Bryan Meyo Ngoua | 31 January 2006 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
Players Called Up Recently
These players have also been called to play for Gabon in the last year.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
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GK | Anse Ngoubi Demba | 31 January 2000 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
GK | Patrick Menene | 22 April 1998 | 0 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
GK | Loïc Owono | 18 September 1999 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
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DF | Aaron Appindangoyé | 20 February 1992 | 68 | 2 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Alex Moucketou-Moussounda | 10 October 2000 | 25 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Sidney Obissa | 4 May 2000 | 11 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Yannis M'Bemba | 1 July 2001 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Stane Essono | 28 May 1998 | 1 | 0 | Unattached | v. ![]() |
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MF | Medwin Biteghé | 1 September 1996 | 22 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Eric Bocoum | 10 March 1996 | 7 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Jeff Biloungou | 3 September 1994 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Roy Mbongui | 1 December 2005 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Brimau Nziengui | 24 January 2001 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
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FW | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | 18 June 1989 | 76 | 34 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Denis Bouanga | 11 November 1994 | 46 | 12 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Shavy Babicka | 1 June 2000 | 18 | 3 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Alan Do Marcolino | 19 March 2002 | 9 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Jérémie Obounet | 17 August 2002 | 6 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Rody Effaghe | 11 April 2004 | 5 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Edlin Essang-Matouti | 25 July 2003 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Axel Méyé | 6 June 1995 | 37 | 4 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up. |
Team Records
These are some of the top players for Gabon based on how many games they've played and how many goals they've scored.
- Players in bold are still playing for Gabon.
Most Games Played
Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Career |
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1 | Didier Ovono | 112 | 0 | 2003–2019 |
2 | François Amégasse | 110 | 9 | 1984–2000 |
3 | Bruno Ecuélé Manga | 109 | 9 | 2007–present |
4 | Etienne Kassa-Ngoma | 92 | 7 | 1985–1997 |
5 | Cédric Moubamba | 86 | 2 | 1998–2012 |
6 | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | 81 | 35 | 2009–present |
Valéry Ondo | 80 | 12 | 1988–2001 | |
8 | Lloyd Palun | 79 | 1 | 2011–present |
André Biyogo Poko | 79 | 3 | 2010–present | |
10 | Nzué Nguema | 77 | 23 | 1995–2005 |
Top Goal Scorers
Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
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1 | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (list) | 35 | 81 | 0.43 | 2009–present |
2 | Nzué Nguema | 23 | 77 | 0.3 | 1995–2005 |
3 | Guy Roger Nzamba | 21 | 47 | 0.45 | 1988–2000 |
4 | Michel Minko | 14 | 41 | 0.34 | 1984–1990 |
5 | Brice Mackaya | 13 | 43 | 0.3 | 1992–1999 |
Denis Bouanga | 13 | 47 | 0.28 | 2017–present | |
Daniel Cousin | 13 | 60 | 0.22 | 2000–2014 | |
8 | Malick Evouna | 12 | 36 | 0.33 | 2012–present |
Valéry Ondo | 12 | 80 | 0.15 | 1988–2001 | |
10 | Bruno Zita Mbanangoyé | 11 | 68 | 0.16 | 1999–2012 |
Tournament History
FIFA World Cup
Gabon has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup.
FIFA World Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
1930 to 1958 | Part of ![]() |
Part of ![]() |
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Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | ||||||||||||||
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Withdrew | Withdrew | ||||||||||||||
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Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
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Withdrew | Withdrew | ||||||||||||||
1978 to 1986 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 9 | |||||||||
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4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 | ||||||||||
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7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 11 | ||||||||||
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2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||
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12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 14 | ||||||||||
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12 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 17 | 10 | ||||||||||
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6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 6 | ||||||||||
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8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | ||||||||||
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6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | ||||||||||
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To be determined | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 6 | |||||||||
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To be determined | |||||||||||||||
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Total | — | 0/15 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 68 | 27 | 12 | 29 | 74 | 78 |
Africa Cup of Nations
Gabon has played in the Africa Cup of Nations nine times. Their best results were reaching the quarter-finals in 1996 and 2012.
Africa Cup of Nations record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | ||
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Part of ![]() |
Part of ![]() |
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Not affiliated with CAF | Not affiliated with CAF | ||||||||||||||
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Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||
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Withdrew | Withdrew | ||||||||||||||
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Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | |||||||||
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Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
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Withdrew | Withdrew | ||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | |||||||||
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||
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2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||
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6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||
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6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||
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Group stage | 12th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 2 | ||
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Quarter-finals | 7th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 | ||
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Did not qualify | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5 | |||||||||
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Group stage | 16th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 10 | ||
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Did not qualify | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 10 | |||||||||
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6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 7 | ||||||||||
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12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 14 | ||||||||||
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4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | ||||||||||
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Group stage | 10th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 3 | ||
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Quarter-finals | 5th | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | Qualified as hosts | |||||||
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Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||
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Group stage | 12th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 4 | ||
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9th | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | Qualified as host | ||||||||
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Did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 5 | |||||||||
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Round of 16 | 12th | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | ||
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Did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | |||||||||
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Qualified | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | |||||||||
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To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||
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Total | Quarter-finals | 9/35 | 25 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 24 | 27 | 116 | 43 | 30 | 43 | 135 | 108 |
African Nations Championship
- 2011 – Group stage
- 2014 – Quarter-finals
- 2016 – Group stage
Team Achievements
Regional Cups
- CEMAC Cup
- Champions: 2013
- Runners-up: 2007
- Third place: 2005, 2006
- UDEAC Cup
- Champions: 1985, 1988
- Third place: 1987, 1989
- UNIFAC Cup
- Champions: 1999
- Central African Games
- Bronze medal: 1976, 1981
See also
In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Gabón para niños