Gabon’s renaissance will be put to the test when they face Libya in their opening Group F 2022 World Cup qualifier away in Benghazi on Wednesday afternoon, kick-off at 19h00 GMT.
The Panthers are hoping to qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time in history and they are aware a win will improve their chances for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Libya will be also fighting for their debut at the global showpiece and they will fancy their chances of getting their qualifying campaign off to a winning start.
The clash will be the second official match in-charge for Libya coach Javier Clemente who in July returned for a second spell in charge of the Mediterranean Knights. Clemente was in-charge of the team in the failed 2018 World Cup qualification campaign.
Libya will playing at Benina Martyrs Stadium in Benghazi which will be hosting its first official international match after more than seven years due to the ban that was imposed by FIFA.
It’s a familiar hunting ground for Clemente as he was the Libya manager between 2013 and 2016, where they managed to qualify for 2014 African Nations Championship and went on to win the trophy in South Africa.
However, Group F is a tight one as it also has Angola and Egypt who have been in the global football showcase before.
Clemente has hinted that they will have to be very tight at the back, but also make sure they take their chances at goal because it is always good to start such a campaign with a good win.“We shall not over respect our opponents. We simply need to do our job on the pitch,” reasoned the coach.
Kuwait-based Ahmad Eltrbi is expected to marshal the Libyan defence while Portugal based attacker Moatasem Al Musrati and Hamdou Mohamed Elhouni of Esperance de Tunis leading the attack-line.
With more than half of the squad drawn from the domestic league, they will be expected to play with a lot more cohesion than their visitors.
But Gabon coach Patrice Neveu has said although they are playing away from home, they will push forward for goals. “We respect Libya and know how strong they can be at home. But we are determined to get a good result here,” added Neveu.
The Panthers and Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is expected to lead the attack together with Saint-Etienne winger Denis Bouanga.
Aubameyang will be looking to extend his scoring record of 27 goals in 66 matches for the Panthers.
The other Group C match on Wednesday sees Egypt host Angola at 30 June Stadium in Cairo.
