The next destination of our alphabetical world tour is Gabon. According to the Premier League website, five players have represented Gabon in the Premier League. Four of those have appeared since 2016, leaving one player out on his own as the first.
First Player – Daniel Cousin (Hull City; 2008-10)
Striker Daniel Cousin was brought to Hull in the summer of 2008 as the Tigers began their first-ever season in the Premier League. He scored four goals in 27 games as Hull trumped the odds to retain their top-flight status, but made only three league appearances the following term as they suffered relegation.
Cousin spent the remainder of his club career in Greece and back in Gabon, where he later became manager of the national team after winning 56 caps as a player, scoring 13 goals.
Records
- Most Appearances – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (75)
- First appearance – Daniel Cousin (HULL 2-2 Everton, September 21st 2008)
- Most goals – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (49)
- First goal – Daniel Cousin (Arsenal 1-2 HULL, September 27th 2008)
Other players
Daniel Cousin remained the only Gabonese Premier League player until 2016. Though there have been a further four since then, Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the only Gabonese to feature last season for a Premier League club. Mario Lemina, Didier Ndong and Bruno Ecuele Manga are the other three Gabonese Premier League players as the former is currently on loan at new boys Fulham.
Trivia
- Gabon are one of 32 CAF nations to have been represented in the Premier League.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang won CAF’s African Footballer of the Year award in 2015.
- Bruno Ecuele Manga appeared in all 38 of Cardiff’s Premier League fixtures in 2018/19, his only Premier League appearances.
