Gabon forward Denis Bouanga has set his sights on a landmark run at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, insisting the Panthers are determined to push into uncharted territory.
One of the most seasoned players in the squad, Bouanga believes Gabon possess the belief and ambition to break their long-standing quarter-final ceiling, a stage they have failed to move beyond in eight previous AFCON appearances.
“I hope we can go beyond the quarter-finals. That would be historic for Gabon and would give us something we have never achieved in recent tournaments,” Bouanga told CAFOnline.
Bouanga acknowledged the increasing responsibility that comes with experience, particularly in mentoring younger teammates, but stressed that his hunger to compete remains undiminished.
“As the years go by, I have more responsibility in the dressing room, especially to guide the younger players, but I stay focused on my role. I have a competitive spirit; I don’t like losing, I like winning,” he said.
The Los Angeles FC attacker also heads into the tournament with a personal target, still chasing his first AFCON goal after several near-misses in past editions.
“Personally, I want to finally score my first goal at the Africa Cup of Nations. I’ve hit the woodwork many times but I’ve never managed to score,” he added.
Bouanga arrives in Morocco in prolific form after a remarkable Major League Soccer season in the United States, becoming the first player to score at least 20 goals in three consecutive MLS campaigns.
He is also among a select group of players to have reached double figures in playoff goals.
“I had a very good season, and I want to continue on that path with the national team. The preparation went well, and now we need to build chemistry quickly to start the tournament strongly,” Bouanga said.
Gabon have been drawn in Group F alongside Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Mozambique, and will begin their AFCON campaign against Cameroon tonight at the Adrar Stadium, with kick-off set for 20:00 GMT.
