Gabon national team coach Jorge Costa is preparing his side for two important friendly international matches against Mali and Belarus.

Costa unveiled a squad of 23 footballers who will make themselves available for the coach’s selections in those two matches, which will be used as experimental encounters to help the side prepare for 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, which begin in three short months.

The Gabonese take on Mali in their first game on March 25, before facing Belarus five days later on March 30.

The Portuguese coach has included the usual suspects in his squad, with a few well known names emerging from the list. Bruno Ecuele Manga of Cardiff City and Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are two of the players that will be expected to perform and be leaders on the pitch.

In the event that some of the original 23 players are not able to represent the national team, or injuries occur in the lead up to the games, Costa also asked five additional footballers to be on standby as reserves for the matches.

Full Gabon Squad

Goalkeepers: Didier Ovono (Ostend, Belgium), Anthony Mfa Mezui (Metz, France), Stéphane Bitseki (CF Mounana)

Defenders: Lloyd Palun (Nice, France), Yrondy Musavu King (Caen, France) Benjamin Zé Ondo (ES Setif, Algeria), Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff City, England), Henri Junior Ndong (Auxerre, France), Aaron Appindangoye (Boavista, Portugal), Johan Obiang (Chateauroux, France), Junior Randal Oto Zue (Sporting Braga, Portugal)

Midfielders: André Biyogho Poko (Bordeaux, France), Didier Ndong Ibrahim (Lorient, France), Samson Mbingui (MC El Eulma, Algeria), Lévy Madinda (Celta Vigo, Spain), Kanga Guelor (FC Rostov, Russia), Alexander Ndoumbou (Marseille, France), Frédéric Bulot (Charlton Athletic, England), Franck Engongah (OC Khouribga, Morocco)

Forwards: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Malick Evouna (WAC Casablanca, Morocco), Romuald Ntsitsigui (Mangasport), Johan Lengoualama (RS Berkane, Morocco).

List of Reserve Players: Bonaventure Sokambi (ASO Chlef, Algeria), Gilles Mbang Ondo ( RAS Al Khaimah, UAE), Didier Bouanga (Lorient, France) Yann Boé-Kane (Ergotelis, Greece), Merlin Tandjigora (Istres, France) .