All eyes will be on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the Africa Cup of Nations gets underway on Saturday with hosts Gabon facing debutants Guinea-Bissau.
The Panthers are hosting their second edition of the tournament after co-hosting with Equatorial Guinea in 2012, and will hope to do better than their quarter-final appearance five years ago.
Aubameyang s form will be key to their success but the Borussia Dortmund striker is confident the whole squad, rather than just himself, have the quality to go all the way.
I think it is a really important challenge, he told CNN. I think it is an opportunity for our country to win this trophy for the first time.
I think we have a good team, young players but talented players, we know it will be hard but we are at home and I think it is an opportunity to take the trophy this year.
Guinea-Bissau were the surprise package of qualification as they topped a group that included 2012 champions Zambia.
It was a remarkable achievement for Baciro Cande s men given they had only played 32 competitive internationals before the start of the campaign, winning just four.
They nearly doubled that tally in Group E with a double over Kenya and a 3-2 victory against Zambia in Bissau, and the Djurtus will hope to keep on surprising people at the finals, starting with the hosts.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Gabon Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
If the Panthers are to achieve Aubameyang s dreams of a first AFCON triumph then the captain will need to replicate the form he has shown for Dortmund this season.
The 27-year-old has netted 20 goals in 22 appearances in all competitions in 2016-17, while his record at international level shows 16 in 29, including three the last time Gabon hosted the competition.
