The first group D match tips off tomorrow with the Indomitable Lions and the Panthers facing off in Lubango.
Cameroon Wants To Be The First Heavyweights To Do Their Jobs

Cameroon is one of the big favourites in the tournament and have their eyes set on winning it all like they did in 2000 and 2002. With a new team and a better focus Cameroon will want to start this match seriously against an opponent they happen to know very well.

Cameroon and Gabon were in the same qualifying group to the African Cup of Nations and the World Cup in South Africa. And it was tanks to their double win over the Panthers that Cameroon got back into the tournament and finally took it all by topping their qualifying group.

After a catastrophic start in the qualifying round, Cameroon were last in their group with only apoint in two games while Gabon had six and seemed untouchable mere days before their scheduled opposition. But President Omar bongo's death delayed the confrontation and gave the Indomitable Lions time to regroup, change caches and philosophies. Three months after scheduled game, a reborn Indomitable squad won back-to-back matches against the Panthers and got themselves back into the competition. The Panthers will surely be very motivated for revenge this Wednesday.
If Cameroon is one of the big African heavyweights, their new squad hasn't been showing the maturity that comes with winning with one another, but thanks to Paul Le Guen and his new approach, Cameroon somehow got into the outsiders' seat, which seems to agree with them very well. With their first competition confrontation under new management, we'll get to see what the Cameroonians are really made of.

The Panthers Are Trying To Build Themselves A New Legacy In African Football

The Panthers could have made it to the World Cup. Actually they should have made it to the World Cup. Their showings and performances were by far the best in a qualifying group composed of three former African representatives to previous World Cup (Cameroon, Togo and Morocco completed the Group). And that's saying a lot to a team that was not considered a proper opponent by many for so long.

French Manager Alain Giresse has been making miracles, literally with his squad. From a team of adequate players, he has been able to produce top-play but more importantly he's been able to infuse his team with the confidence needed to succeed at the highest of levels. Formed mainly by players plying their trade in mediocre teams around Europe, the Azingo Nationale somehow managed to become a feared side in the past months.

With a squad of no-names, Giresse convinced his team of the virtues of sacrifice and the Gabonese have been virtually outplaying most of their opponents by being more serious in defense and very opportunistic upfront. With the help of young new talent and experienced mentors, Gabon could very well install themselves as a new Country to count with.

Wednesday's game will prove to many that Gabon is not at the African Cup of Nations because Togo and Morocco were bad but because they were better. Extremely comfortable in their David shoes ready to face the Cameroonian Goliath and their armada of superstars, Gabon will try to renew their 1996 performance by qualifying to the quarterfinals of the competition. Their journey starts tomorrow.
TEAM NEWS

Cameroon

With Schalke 04's Joel Matip failing to join the Indomitable Lions in time due to passport problems, the Indomitable Lions have a full squad of 22 players to start the competition. But some of their most high-profile players are not going to be 100% on the first match. Captain Samuel Eto'o Fils has a knee injury that's being treated, Alexandre Song's thigh is still a little tender while Stephane M'bia got injured in the test-match against Kenya and could very well be absent from the game if Le Guen chooses to save him for later games.

Goalkeepers - Idriss Carlos Kameni (Espanyol Barcelona, Spain), Souleymanou Hamidou (Kayserispor, Turkey), Guy Roland N'Dy Assembe (Valenciennes, France)

Defenders - Rigobert Song Bahanag (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Geremi Njitap (Ankaragücü, Turkey), Fotso Henri Bedimo (Chateauroux, France), Andre Stephane Bikey (Burnley, England), Benoit Assou Ekotto (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Aurélien Chedjou (Lille, France), and Nicolas Nkoulou (AS Monaco, France).

Midfielders - Alexandre Song (Arsenal, England), Jean II Makoun (Lyon, France), Stéphane Mbia (Marseille, France), Georges Mandjeck (Kaiserslautern, Germany), Enoh Eyong (Ajax Amsterdam, the Netherlands), Landry Nguemo (Celtic Glasgow, Scotland), Achille Emana (Real Betis, Spain).

Forwards - Somen A Tchoyi (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria), Paul Alo’o Efoulou (AS Nancy, France), Achille Webo (Mallorca, Spain), Idrissou Mohamadou (SC Freiburg, Germany), Samuel Eto’o Fils (Inter Milan, Italy).

Gabon

With a full squad ready to go, The Gabon squad have been keeping it pretty low key, as usual with them but are nonetheless confident about their possibilities. With a great knowledge of themselves and of their opponent they are trying to get the upset that would set everything in motion for them this Wednesday in Lubango. Here is Alain Giresse's squad:

Goalkeepers - Didier Ovono Ebang (Le Mans, France), Yves Bitseki Moto (US Bitam, Gabon), Claude Boris Nguema (Telestars FC, Gabon).

Defenders - Georges Ambourouet (Makedonija Skopje, Macedonia), Erwin Nguema (Coton Sport Garoua, Cameroon), Bruno Ecuele Manga (Angers, France), Rodrigue Moudounga (Mangasport, Gabon), Ernest Akouassaga (Nantes, France).

Midfielders - Arsène do Marcolino (Les Herbiers, France), Moïse Brou Apanga (Stade Brestois, France), Jean Stéphane Yessi Achi Aman (Mangasport, Gaon), Alain Djissikadie (TP Mazembe, Democratic Republic of Congo), Stéphane Nguema (Rennes,France), Bruno Zita Mbanangoye (Sivasspor, Turkey), Cédric Moubamba (Dhofar, Oman), Thierry Issiemou (US Monastir, Tunisia), Paul Ulrich Kessany (Istres, France).

Forwards - Daniel Cousin (Hull City, England), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Lille, France), Willy Aubameyang (Eupen, Belgium), Fabrice do Marcolino (Laval, France), Roguy Meyé (Ankaraspor, Turkey), Eric Mouloungui (Nice, France).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Cameroon

Samuel Eto'o Fils the biggest African superstar of the last decade is now the captain of his national team and will try his hardest to cement his legacy in Angola. With a impressive start with his new club, nine goals in sixteen games, the baby-faced killer will have to strike again and again and what better way than against an opponent he knows quite well. If he manages to unlock the Gabonese defense, it could turn ugly, fast.

Gabon

Pierre Emeryck Aubameyang is the most hyped youngster in France at the moment, alongside Ivory Coast's Gervinho, and rightfully so. If he hasn't been as efficient as his Ivorian teammate, the 20 year-old AC Milan product is already recognized for his incredible talent and his vision. It is no coincidence that ever since he made him into a starter, Alain Giresse and his team have been getting better results. One variable not to forget is that this will be his first AFCON. But if he goes through it the way he did the rest, Aubameyang will soon be a target for other clubs than just Lyon and Marseille.

PREDICTION

Even though Gabon are a team that's growing increasingly solid, the two beatings they took against Cameroon this fall must weigh on their minds and even with the wave of upsets at this tournament, Cameroon is still in the driver's seat.