Gabon strike Evona from squad

Malick Evona © Gallo Images

Striker Malick Evona, who made a lucrative move last year from Al Ahly of Cairo to China and played upfront for Gabon when they hosted the African Nations Cup finals this year, has been left out of the team that is playing against Mali at the weekend.

Gabon coach Juan Antonio Camacho has dropped Evona and two other regulars and must do without long-standing first choice goalkeeper Didier Ovono, who has announced his retirement from international football, for the Group C qualifier in Bamako on Saturday that marks the start of the 2019 Nations Cup preliminaries.

Evouna, now playing at Tianjin Teda, is joined on the sidelines by André Biyogho Poko (Karabükspor) and Spanish-based Lévy Madinda, all considered to have had a mediocre tournament in January.

But Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, having skipped a friendly against Zambia last weekend, is in the squad for the Group C against Mali on Saturday.

Goalkeepers: Stéphane Bitséki (CF Mounana), Anthony Mfa Mezui (unattached club), Donald Nzé (AS Pélican)

Defenders: Aaron Appindangoye (Laval, France), Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff City, Wales), Henri Ndong (FC Suduva, Lithuania), Johann Obiang (Troyes, France), Junior Randal Oto’o (Westerlo, Belgium), Loïc Ondo (KF Fjardabyggd, Iceland), Lloyd Palun (Red Star, France), Yoann Wachter (Sedan, France)

Midfielders: Louis Ameka Autchanga (CF Mounana), Franck Engongah (El Geish, Egypt), Kanga Guelor (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Mario Lemina (Juventus, Italy), Samson Mbingui (Raja Casablanca, Morocco), Didier Ibrahim Ndong (Sunderland, England), Ulysse Obame Ndong (Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa, Bulgaria), Serge Martinsson Ngouali (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden)

Forwards: Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Denis Bouanga (Tours, France), Aaron Boupendza (Bordeaux, France), Axel Meyé (Eskisehirspor, Turkey),