Aubameyang, Lemina, Ndong highlight Gabon call-ups for AFCON
Set to host the African Cup of Nations when it kicks off on Jan. 14, Gabon's squad will be bolstered by three notable top-flight standouts.
Borussia Dortmund goal machine Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina, and Sunderland ball-stopper Didier Ndong will all be part of Jose Antonio Camacho's squad when it hosts first-timer Guinea-Bissau on the tournament's opening day.
Aubameyang, who is both Les Pantheres' skipper and all-time leading scorer (20), will hit a half-century of caps with two appearances at the tournament. Lemina, 23, has six caps, while Ndong, 22, has 18.
All three players have emerged from French football, with Laval-born Aubameyang preceding a move to Germany with a spell at Saint-Etienne, while both Lemina and Ndong enjoyed time with Lorient.
Should Gabon qualify for the final, Sunderland and Juventus will be without its first-teamers for as many as five matches, while Dortmund could miss its top goal-getter for four fixtures after returning from the winter break the penultimate week of January at Werder Bremen on Jan 21.
While Aubameyang and Lemina's call-ups come as little surprise, Ndong's has raised a few eyebrows after the summer signing failed to appear for a World Cup qualifier in November. The tough-tackling midfielder later apologised, prompting his return to the Gabon setup for this month's tournament.
Here's a look at Gabon's side for its fifth AFCON:
GK: Didier Ovono (Oostende, Belgium), Yves Stephane Bitseki Moto (CF Mounana), Anthony Mfa Mezui (unattached)
DF: Lloyd Palun (Red Star, France), Andre Biyogho Poko (Karabukspor, Turkey), Aaron Appindangoye (Stade Lavallois, France), Franck Perrin Obambou (Stade Mandji), Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff City, Wales), Yoann Wachter (CS Sedan Ardennes, France), Johann Serge Obiang (Troyes, France), Benjamin Ze Ondo (Mosta FC, Malta)
MF: Mario Lemina (Juventus, Italy), Junior Serge Martinsson Ngouali (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden), Levy Clement Madinda (Gimnastic, Spain), Guelor Kanga Kaku (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Merlin Tandjigora (Meixian Hakka FC, China), Didier Ibrahim Ndong (Sunderland, England), Samson Mbingui (Raja Casablanca, Morocco)
FW: Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Malick Evouna (Tianjin Teda FC, China), Denis Athanase Bouanga (Tours, France), Serge Kevyn Aboue Angoue (Uniao Leiria, Portugal), Cedric Ondo Biyoghe (CF Mounana)