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Libreville (AFP) – Gabon’s sports minister Nicole Asselé on Monday assured that the venues for the Africa Cup of Nations are “ready” ahead of the start of the tournament in Libreville on January 14.
Assele also insisted to AFP that the recent presidential election, in which the incumbent Ali Bongo claimed a contested victory over Jean Ping, was “in the past” as she sought to allay fears about the political situation in the central African country.
“The four stadiums are ready in Libreville, Franceville, Oyem and Port-Gentil,” said Assele, who had recently expressed “concern” about the new venue being built in Oyem, in the north of Gabon.
“They were not concerns about the stadium, but regarding outside spaces. I have been assured that parking facilities will all be ready by the end of the month,” she said.
Oyem will host matches in Group C involving Ivory Coast, Togo, DR Congo and Morocco.
Assele last week accompanied Bongo on a visit to the new stadium in Port-Gentil and said that problems regarding the pitch there had now been sorted.
“The elections are in the past. I am not thinking about the elections today but about about a celebration of football,” she added, saying that opposition calls for a boycott of the competition were “a shame. Dirty washing should be washed in private.”
Gabon, coached by Spaniard Jose Antonio Camacho, will face Guinea-Bissau in the tournament’s opening game on January 14, with the final to be played on February 5.

Gabon football stadiums ready, election 'in past' &#8211; minister

Gabon football stadiums ready, election 'in past' - minister - World Soccer Talk

Gabon football stadiums ready, election 'in past' – minister

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Paris (AFP) – José Antonio Camacho is set to become the new coach of Africa Cup of Nations host Gabon, the Spaniard told AFP on Saturday.
Camacho, 61, was in the capital Libreville on Saturday with the president of the country’s federation to sign a contract that will see him succeed Portuguese Jorge Costa in the dugout.
The former Real Madrid player and coach was most recently in charge of China up to 2013.
Gabon kick off the Cup of Nations against Guinea Bissau in Libreville on January 14.

Camacho set to become Gabon football coach

Camacho set to become Gabon football coach - World Soccer Talk

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Libreville (AFP) – Africa Cup of Nations hosts Gabon have sacked coach Jorge Costa little&nbsp;more than two months before the start of the 2017 tournament, the country’s federation announced on Friday.
The Fegafoot first cancelled a Costa press conference scheduled for Friday morning before announcing the departure of the 45-year-old former Portugal defender.
He has been replaced on an interim basis by compatriot Jose Garrido, who had been working for the federation as a technical director and previously worked as a coach in the Middle East. He will give a press conference on Saturday morning, Fegafoot said.
Garrido must then prepare for the crucial World Cup qualifier away to Mali in Bamako on November 12.
Costa, who had been in the job since 2014, oversaw a 0-0 draw at home to Morocco in a 2018 World Cup qualifier in his final match in charge last month.
His absence from the draw for the Cup of Nations in the capital Libreville on October 19 did not go down well in the country.
Gabon will play Guinea-Bissau in the opening match of the tournament in Libreville on January 14 before also facing Burkina Faso and Cameroon in Group A.
Ex-Porto stopper Costa had initially been let go at the end of June due to his “uneven” results but was then reappointed in August with the aim of getting to the final of the Cup of Nations.
He was the best-paid coach in Africa with a monthly salary of 70,000 euros ($78,000).

Gabon sacks Costa, appoint Garrido ahead of CAN

Gabon sacks Costa, appoint Garrido ahead of CAN - World Soccer Talk

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