Looking to pick up a fourth consecutive win across all competitions and extend their lead at the top of Group I of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, Mauritania visit the Stade de Franceville to face Gabon on Wednesday.
The Panthers, on the other hand, saw off Congo DR in Saturday's group opener and will be aiming for a second consecutive win for the first time since November 2021.
Match preview
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Gabon kicked off their Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign on a winning note as they saw off Congo DR 1-0 when the sides met in Saturday's group opener.
In a cagey affair at the Stade des Martyrs, Aris Limassol forward Shavy Warren Babicka came up trumps for the visitors as he scored the only goal of the game in the 23rd minute.
Prior to that, Patrice Neveu's side were beaten on penalties by Burkina Faso when the sides squared off in the round of 16 of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations back in January.
Gabon now head home where they are unbeaten in each of their last five outings, picking up four wins and one draw since a 2-0 friendly defeat at the hands of Benin back in October 2020.
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Elsewhere, Mauritania made light work of Sudan as they cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory when the sides squared off at the Stade de la Capitale on Saturday.
Aboubakar Kamara scored a quick-fire brace to put the hosts in a commanding two-goal lead heading into the interval before substitute Abdallahi Mahmoud completed the rout with a 77th-minute strike.
Mauritania have now won each of their last three games across all competitions after seeing off Mozambique and Libya in their two friendly fixtures back in March.
Amir Abdou's men are now unbeaten in all but one of their last seven Africa Cup of Nations qualifying games — picking up three wins and three draws — with a 3-1 defeat to Burundi in November 2020 being the exception.
While Mauritania will look to keep the juggernaut rolling and pick up a fourth straight win in all competitions, they have struggled for results away from home, where they have lost seven of their last eight games since March.
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Team News
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Neveu could name an unchanged back four that kept a clean sheet against Congo DR last time out, meaning we could see Anthony Oyono, Alex Moucketou-Moussounda, Aaron Appindangoye, David Sambissa, shielding Jean Noel Amonome between the sticks.
At the centre of the park, we should see a midfield trio of 25-year-old Medwin Biteghe, Andre Pako and Red Star Belgrade man Guelor Kanga.
Aris Limassol forward Shavy Warren Babicka ended his 14-game goal drought last time out and the 22-year-old should team up with Axel Maye and Louis Ameka Autchanga in the final third.
Meanwhile, Abdou watched on as his side comfortably saw off Sudan in the group opener and the French manager could name an unchanged lineup on Wednesday.
With his brace on Saturday, Kamara now has four goals in nine appearances since making his debut against in March 2021, and the former Fulham forward should spearhead the attack once again.
Alaves midfielder Mahmoud will push for a starting role at the centre of the park after the 22-year-old put on a superb cameo in the game against Sudan last time out.
Gabon possible starting lineup:
Amonome; Oyono, Moucketou-Moussounda, Appindangoye, Sambissa; Biteght, Poko; Babicka, Kanga, Ameka; Meye
Mauritania possible starting lineup:
Diop; Keita, Yali, L Ba, Abeid; H Ba, Thiam, Mouhsine; Kamara, Tanjy, Soueid
We say: Gabon 2-1 Mauritania
Mauritania head into Wednesday's game in solid form, winning each of their last three outings while scoring seven goals and keeping two clean sheets in that time. However, they have lost seven of their last eight away games across all competitions. We predict Gabon will make use of their home advantage and come away with a slender victory.
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