There was gloom in Gabon after yesterday’s thumping 4-1 loss to Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the penultimate Africa qualifying playoff towards World Cup 2026, but the leadership of the Panthers quickly moved to raise sunken morale among the players and citizens of the country.
The match was the first of two games played in Rabat, Morocco.
In the second match, DR Congo narrowly edged Cameroun 1-0, to set up a thrilling matchup against the Super Eagles on Sunday.
Victory for either country in that match does still not give qualification to the World Cup as there remains a last game, an intercontinental match, to be played outside Africa in March next year, to determine who eventually goes to the mundial being co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico in June-July.
Consoling his players and the Gabonese generally, Panthers national coach, Thierry Mouyouma implored them to weep no more.
In a message posted on Thursday on his Facebook page, Mouyouma explained that his boys, comprising Marseille hotshot Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and co, gave their all and really desired to move to the next qualifying stage, but it was not to be.
Urging them to turn the page, the coach invited supporters to now focus on the 2025 AFCON.
According to a report in French language which was run in the Agence Gabonaise De Presse (Gabonese Press Agency), the coach wrote: “Tonight against Nigeria, we missed our chance to qualify for the World Cup. Falling down is also about learning to get back up and do better.”
He encouraged his players thus: “We are not giving up, we are keeping our heads high and our eyes on the AFCON. I believe in my players, I know how much they love this sport and we will do everything to surpass ourselves during the AFCON.”
Mouyouma concluded his remarks by expressing gratitude to the 12th man of the match: “A huge thank you to our supporters, who push us to give our best despite the difficulties.”
*PHOTO CAPTION: Mouyouma.
