Gabon lifts the curtain Saturday on the Africa Cup of Nations with the hosts, spearheaded by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, playing minnows Guinea-Bissau in the opening match in Libreville. The first match in Group A in the 16-team competition, preceded by the opening ceremony, was set to begin at 1600 GMT at the Stade de l'Amitie in the Gabonese capital. It was there that Zambia beat the Ivory Coast on penalties in the 2012 final.
The build-up to the tournament has been marked by political tension and protests are planned to coincide with the start of the event. Cameroon, four-time winners of the Cup of Nations but troubled by a raft of withdrawals of leading players, and Burkina Faso, the other teams in Group A, meet at the same venue at 1900 GMT.
Gabon are bidding to win the continental title for the first time, 60 years on from the inaugural Cup of Nations, and are pinning their hopes on French-born Borussia Dortmund striker Aubameyang. "Pierre is one of the best players in the world. Gabon are lucky to have him," the Panthers' Spanish coach Jose Antonio Camacho said ahead of the opening match when asked about the importance of the 27-year-old, African player of the year in 2015.
"It will be difficult for Gabon to go far if Aubameyang is not at his best." Guinea-Bissau caused a sensation when they qualified for the finals for the first time but while the side known as the 'wild dogs' will be desperate to seize their opportunity on the international stage, they could also be forgiven for feeling rather rusty.
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