Bruno Ecuele Manga chosen to represent Gabon at 2027 AFCON draw

The Gabonese Football Federation has selected former captain Bruno Ecuele Manga to represent the country at the draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will take place on 19 May at CAF headquarters in Cairo.

The decision places the former international defender at the centre of a key moment in the build-up to the continental competition, as Gabon prepare for the qualification phase of the tournament.

The appointment comes at a time of uncertainty within Gabonese football, with the national team still without a confirmed head coach.

In the absence of a permanent appointment, the federation, led by Pierre-Alain Mounguengui, has opted to assign the responsibility to one of the country’s most experienced former players.

Ecuele Manga is expected to travel to Cairo for the ceremony, with his trip scheduled for the early hours of Tuesday. According to Gabonactu, the federation will fully cover the costs of his journey.

Beyond his immediate role at the draw, the appointment is being viewed as part of a wider transition within the national team structure.

The former central defender is expected to take on a more permanent position within the Panthers’ setup, with plans for him to join the national team’s future technical and administrative staff as general manager.

His presence in Cairo is therefore seen as an early step into a broader role, marking his first official engagement in a new capacity with the national team environment.

Reports also indicate that Ecuele Manga was previously named general manager of the Panthers during the June international break in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, under an interim coaching structure led by Anicet Yala.

The assignment linked to the AFCON draw is understood to represent his first formal duty in that evolving role.

The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be hosted jointly by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania between 19 June and 17 July 2027.

The draw in Cairo will bring together representatives from all 48 nations involved in the qualification process, as federations begin planning their routes to the continent’s premier international tournament.