Messi in Gabon to launch AFCON 2017 countdown

The Argentine and Barcelona superstar will together with Gabon President, Ali Bongo Ondimba lay the first stone for the new 20,000 capacity Port-Gentil stadium on Saturday.

Right after the Copa America in South America, Lionel Messi has arrived in Gabon to support the greatest football event on the African continent, the Africa Cup of Nations to be played from January 21 to February 12, 2017 on Gabonese soil.

His club, FC Barcelona are heavily involved in the Gabonese football throughout the Gabonese National Football League (Linaf) led by former vice president of Barca, Jaume Ferrer.

Leo Messi, one of the most prestigious football ambassadors in the world will symbolically lay tomorrow the first stone of the Port-Gentil stadium, alongside the President of the Republic, Ali Bongo Ondimba. With this new 20,000 seater stadium, which meets the high standard requirements of major sporting events, will allow the economic capital of Gabon to host some of the matches of the 31st edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The other competition venues will be:

- Oyem, in the north of the country, again with the construction of a new stadium,

- Franceville, which has already hosted matches of the CAN 2012,

- Libreville with two stadiums: the already famous Stade de l'Amitié, which hosted the CAN 2012 final, and the Stade Omnisport Omar Bongo, who has been completely rebuilt, in the heart of Libreville.

The countdown is on!

With no doubt, CAN GABON 2017 will exceed all expectations. It will not only be the biggest sport event of the continent, but also one of the biggest sporting events of 2017 in the world.