Gabon beat Niger to revive CAN 2027 qualifying campaign

Gabon responded to a disappointing opening result by defeating Niger 2-0 at home on Tuesday to claim their first win of the CAN 2027 qualifiers.

The victory, secured in the second round of Group A fixtures, gives the Panthers three important points and puts their campaign back on track.

Niger proved difficult to break down during a goalless first half, with the visitors maintaining their shape and frustrating Gabon’s attacking efforts. The hosts continued to apply pressure after the interval and eventually found the breakthrough eight minutes after the restart.

Rody Junior Effaghea opened the scoring in the 53rd minute, sparking celebrations among the home supporters and giving Gabon the advantage they had been seeking.

With the backing of their crowd, Gabon continued to push for a second goal rather than settle for a narrow lead. Their pressure was rewarded in the 77th minute when Denis Bouanga showed his quality to double the Panthers’ advantage.

That goal secured a 2-0 victory and ended any prospect of a Niger comeback. Gabon now have their first win of the qualifying campaign and can approach the remaining fixtures with greater confidence.