AFCON of stars: Aubameyang in his best shape ever
At the age of 36, Pierre-Emerick has had one of the most impressive opening seasons in Europe. Despite his advanced age, the Panther continues to score goals in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, enough to put smiles and conviction on Gabonese faces and especially on that of Thierry Mouyouma at a little more than one week before the start of AFCON 2025.
Philemon MBALE · Author profile ·
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Most decisive player of OM
If many saw him retiring to Saudi Arabia when he joined Al-Qadsiyah in 2024, Pierre-Emerick beat all predictions. The former FC Barcelona centre forward has not only performed well in the Saudi Pro League, but above all proved that he still has a lot to give when returning last summer to Olympique Marseille.
A return with great apprehension, as the age of the panther was advanced. But Aubameyang is like good wine and improves over time. At 36 years old, the Gabonese striker is OM’s most decisive player this season with 8 goals and 10 assists in 19 matches. ‘Auba’ leads young Mason Greenwood who has 13 goals and 4 assists in 20 games for the Marseille team.
A sparkling and surprising form at the same time for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who arrives in the shape of his life for the African Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Edition to pass the torch
In Morocco, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will compete in his 6th African Cup of Nations, after 2010, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2021. With 6 goals and 4 assists in 13 matches in the AFCON finals, 'Auba' has often performed well in the competition. But he never went beyond the quarter-finals, reached at home in 2012 during the co-organization with Equatorial Guinea. It is also the best performance of the Panthers in the final phase, as was the case in 1996 in South Africa.
At 36 years old, Morocco will most likely be his last for the national team and the Marseillais will be keen to fight with his teammates to go and win a first medal in Gabon’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Absent from the last edition in Côte d'Ivoire, the Panthers found a new lease of life with the arrival of Thierry Mouyouma who restored discipline in the group and built a competitive team and a united group. With Aubameyang as the leader, Gabon could be one of the surprises in Morocco, after their exceptional run in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers during which the Panthers fell in the semi-final of the play-offs against Nigeria (4-2).
Placed in the group of death alongside Côte d'Ivoire, Mozambique and Cameroon, their first opponent on December 24, Gabon will have to enter the competition with ambition and send a strong message from their first matches.