The planned warm-up match between Gabon and Uganda, set as part of preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, has been officially cancelled.
The decision, confirmed by the Gabonese Football Federation, comes amid logistical challenges affecting the team’s training environment.
The Panthers’ training session on Monday, December 16, 2025, was reportedly suspended after the coaching staff deemed the available equipment inadequate.
Officials cited concerns that the gear provided was too light to endure the cooler Moroccan conditions.
Consequently, the friendly match against Uganda, originally scheduled for Wednesday, December 17, 2025, was also called off.
The safety and performance of our players is paramount, a Gabonese Football Federation spokesperson said. Until we have appropriate equipment that meets the standards required for training and match preparation, we cannot proceed with either practice or the scheduled friendly.
This cancellation raises concerns about the team’s readiness for the tournament, which begins later this month.
Gabon will have to adjust its preparation plans and ensure that the squad maintains fitness and tactical cohesion despite the lack of match practice.
Officials are reportedly exploring solutions to provide suitable equipment, allowing training to resume as soon as possible.
The disruption comes at a crucial moment for the Panthers, who are drawn in Group F for AFCON 2025, alongside Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Mozambique.
With the tournament opener approaching, the absence of competitive match experience could affect their early performances, placing added emphasis on internal training sessions and tactical drills.
Gabonese players are said to be frustrated by the situation but remain committed to their preparations.
Team staff have been instructed to focus on individual conditioning and strategic briefings until training can restart fully.
Uganda, meanwhile, will have to revise its own schedule in light of the cancellation.
The Cranes were set to use the friendly as an opportunity to test squad rotations and refine attacking and defensive patterns ahead of their AFCON campaign.
The Gabonese Football Federation is working to ensure that the logistical issues are resolved quickly.
A statement from the federation indicated that all necessary measures are being taken to secure proper training equipment and guarantee that players can return to full preparations without delay.
As the countdown to AFCON 2025 continues, Gabon faces the challenge of adapting to these unforeseen setbacks while ensuring the squad is ready to compete at a high level in Morocco.
