Messi visits Gabon, lays foundation for new Stadium

Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi linked was Gabonese president Ali Bongo Ondimba's guest of honour on Saturday to lay the first stone at a future Africa Cup of Nations venue.

Four-time World footballer of the year officially started the building process at the Port-Gentil stadium, which will host Africa Cup of Nations matches in 2017.

The ceremony took place on a wide sandy ground where the stadium will be built.

It was the Argentine forward's first visit to Gabon and he signed autographs on team jerseys worn by his fans, before proceeding with the laying of the first stone, accompanied by the president.

"When I was in Barcelona a few years ago, I met Messi who had told me that he would come to visit me in Libreville," said the Gabon president.

"It's a promise he made me. He is a man of honour who just kept his word."

The new stadium will have a capacity of 20,000 and is expected to host matches from November 2016 in the build-up to the tournament.

Port Gentil is Gabon's second city.

Source: BBC

Equatorial Guinea shocks Gabon, qualifies for AFCON knock-out stage

Wow! Incredible! Equatorial Guinea has qualified for the knocked out stage of the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.

Google: Jubilant Equatorial Guinea

Right inside the Bata Stadium, they defeated neighbours Gabon 2-0 to make the phenomenal progress in the tournament.

The second Group A game saw Congo edge last time runners-up Burkina Faso b 2-1 to go through as well.

Congo however tops the group with 7pts, Equatorial Guinea 5pts, Gabon 3pts and Burkina Faso finished with just a single point.

Bye Bye Gabon and Burkinabes.

My Take: Never right anyone off. Equatorial Guinea left the best for the last.

Lets go Group B....

Afcon 2015: Nigeria miss out, see countries that made it through

Title holders Nigeria will not be at Equatorial Guinea to defend the title they won last year, thanks to a 2-2 draw the west Africa played against South Africa in Uyo on Wednesday evening.

The African champions finished 3rd place in Group A with 8points, two points behind Congo who pip Sudan 1-0 to secure an automatic slot after Bafana Bafana maintained their lead as winner of the group with 12points.

Here are the teams that made it through:
Equatorial Guinea (hosts), Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Zambia

Good luck to them all, name your favourites for the title.

Eaglets whip Gabon 5-0 to qualify for U-17 African Championship

Nigerian Golden Eaglets defeated Gabon 5-0 on Saturday at the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar to qualify for the 2015 Confederation of African Football (CAF) U-17 Championship holding in Niger Republic.

The match was the second leg qualifying match, as Nigeria lost 1-2 in the first leg played in Libreville a fortnight ago.

Hence the team Eaglets qualified on 6-2 aggregate score line.