Prior to the second semifinal of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, I had visited all the venues, apart from one – Franceville.
I was previously in Port Gentil, Oyem and my ‘new home’ city of Libreville (after the most beautiful Entebbe, that gallantly sits on the Lake Victoria peninsular).
During the tournament, Franceville was officially home to Group B countries that had the likes of Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal and Zimbabwe.
On Thursday, I managed to board the COCAN flight, CAN 902 (OD HAJ) after the earlier successful registration procedure for journalists intending to cover the game in Franceville.
The town would later in the night be the battle field for two West African giants, Ghana and Cameroon to determine who faces Egypt in Sunday’s final.
For the rich history of the town that lies South East of the capital, Libreville, it was a must go area.
With an estimated population of about 56,000 people, the town lies along River Mpassa, right at the end of the Trans-Gabon Railway and the N3 road.
I was reliably told that the town grew from a village named ‘Masuku’ where Pierre Savorgnan De Brazza chose it to resettle former Slaves and renamed it ‘Francheville’ (meaning the city of the freed), dating as far back as 1880’s.
Therefore, the city later came to be known as Franceville.
This history alone, minus the semifinal clash made it inevitable for me to visit the city.
As we flew, I happened to have seen the true beauty of Gabon.
From the thick equatorial rain forests, green plateaus, water falls, V-shaped valleys, interlocking spurs and the amazing eye catching meandering of River Mpassa, a tributary of the giant River Ogooue, I happened to have seen it all in less than an hour of travel.
The Franceville stadium was a renovated facility having hosted AFCON in 2012 when Gabon co-hosted the tournament alongside great neighbours, Equatorial Guinea.
The stadium has a capacity of 20,000 seats and it was officially opened in January 2012, just in time for the AFCON 2012.
The first game it hosted was an international friendly match between hosts Gabon and CECAFA nation, Sudan.
Residents in Franceville, like in the other cities are a friendly lot.
The journey from the Leon Mba International Airport in Libreville took us close to 45 minutes to reach the El Hadji Omar Bongo Ondimba Franceville Mvengue Airport.
We were welcome by a traditional musical group before we were driven to the Franceville stadium in a 15 minute drive.
At the stadium, I bumped into the CAF medical commission member, Dr James Ssekajugo who was very excited to meet me.
Like the other 4 stadia used for the tournament, Franceville has ample parking, great playing turf and a state of art media center.
The game between Cameroon Indomitable Lions and Ghana Black Stars which was the main subject matter for my travel was as thrilling as a World Cup final.
Cameroon won the day 2-0 to book a berth at the finals against Egypt in Libreville come Sunday.
Having spent the night in Franceville, the return journey was for Friday aboard another COCAN – CAF flight.
There is a match meant for journalists and CAF officials on Friday evening and surely, I have to be part of it.
Friday is another resting day of the tournament before the third place match in Port Gentil (on Saturday) and the final on Sunday.
Now, it is my time to predict the winner and who will smile home with the trophy and the $4M winning purse.
My mind whispers the Egypt Pharoahs, another Cameroon Indomitable Lions.
I will predict at halftime on Sunday at Stade De L’Amitie.
See you then.
Samba…
