Davido, Flavour light up Gabon •As hosts kick off 31st AFCON against G/Bissau

Nigerian singer, David Adedeji Adeleke, better known as ‘Davido’ is  one of the big performers at the opening ceremony of the 31st African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Libreville, Gabon today.

The multiple award-winning artiste who arrived in Libreville on Friday with American-born Senegalese singer and rapper Akon, later met with Gabonese leader, President Ali Bongo Ondimba.

Davido took to his Instagram page to say: “Thank you Gabon. I love this county, so much love everywhere and also Thanks to His Excellency President Ali Bongo Ondimba, I can’t wait to grace the stage at the AFCON opening ceremony!”

Other super stars to perform include Nigerian highlife musician, Flavour, who will be performing alongside Tanzanian singer, Diamond Platnumz.

Meanwhile, hosts Gabon will look to star player Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to get their campaign off to a winning start in the championship that gets underway today in Libreville.

The striker has 20 goals in 22 games this season for Borussia Dortmund.

Guinea-Bissau will hand a debut to Francisco Junior, who moved to Portugal as a child and only recently switched allegiance to the country of his birth.

The former Everton youth midfielder is joined by two former Liverpool youth players in winger Toni Silva and defender Emmanuel Mendy.

The first of 32 fixtures in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations brings together two countries who have never met before in a competitive match.

Gabon are aiming aim to end a run of opening-match draws by hosts. South Africa were held by Cape Verde in 2013 and Equatorial Guinea by Congo-Brazzaville two years ago.

Shock qualifiers and debutants Guinea-Bissau are hoping to continue their fairytale run.

“We eliminated former champions Congo and Zambia [in qualifying] and can perform even better. The squad will work ceaselessly to achieve good results,” said coach Baciro Cande.

 

However, their last competitive match was four months ago and all of their squad are unknown beyond the borders of the former Portuguese colony

Gabon’s chances rest largely on the form of Aubameyang, who also has personal reasons to make a big impact at the finals.

When the Panthers co-hosted the 2012 Cup of Nations with Equatorial Guinea, they were eliminated by Mali in the quarter-finals on penalties.

Only one spot-kick in the shootout was missed and the culprit was Aubameyang. The striker wept as he left the Libreville pitch, saying “my people expected more from me. I am so disappointed to have let them down.”

Gabon played competitively only twice last year – failing to score in World Cup draws with Morocco and Mali – leaving Spanish coach Jose-Antonio Camacho in apprehensive mood.

The former Real Madrid and Spain handler took charge only last month after underperforming Portuguese Jorge Costa was axed.

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Gabon coach Jose Antonio Camacho: “In this tournament all the teams are difficult to handle. We must be ready to fight tooth and nail.

“If Guinea-Bissau wins it is because they were better prepared than we were – but they don’t have the pressure we have because we a playing at home.”

Guinea-Bissau coach Baciro Cande: “We have already forgotten what we achieved in qualification. This competition has different characteristics.

“We have a quiet confidence because we trust in our team and our collective group. We are happy to be here, It is out first time and we must enjoy the moment.”