LIBREVILLE - Gabon will not want to be outdone by their neighbours and Africa Cup of Nations' co-hosts Equatorial Guinea when they tackle competition first-timers Niger today. This opening Group C clash at the brand new L'Amitie stadium has been earmarked as a must win game by both teams hoping to upset the formbook and sneak into the quarter-finals.

With previous winners Morocco and Tunisia in the mix, a first or second place finish looks tricky, but by no means out of the question.

Gabon were given timely encouragement when their neighbours Equatorial Guinea got their campaign off to a dream start with Saturday's 1-0 defeat of Libya across the border in Malabo.

Niger cannot be underestimated after finishing top of their qualifying group, casting contintental kings Egypt, winners in 2006, 2008 and 2010, aside.

But as Libya found out to their cost, home advantage is a major factor. Gabon were quick out of the blocks in Angola two years ago, stunning one of the Cup favourites Cameroon 1-0 in their first game, with former Hull City striker Daniel Cousin the scorer.

Cousin, now attached to a locally-based side, commented: "Can we win the Cup? That's hard, but we'll go out and do our job. We've got a good mix of experienced players and youngsters who add power to the side.

"We started well in Angola and we have to do the same here, if we beat Niger and win our second match who knows what can happen."

Gabon's German coach Gernot Rohr showed no signs of the pressure piled on his shoulders by his team's number one fan, Gabon President Ali Bongo, who has identified the title as his team's target, at a training session on Friday.

"We're well prepared, solid both on the pitch and mentally.