Head coach of Gabon’s Panthers, Stéphane Bounguendz has said they are hungry to go a step ahead and win the 2016 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN).

The Panthers battled to a 1-all draw against hosts Uganda Cranes on Sunday in an international friendly played in Njeru, 88km out the capital Kampala.

Bounguendz that playing Uganda was a very good build-up because it gave his team a big challenge. "Uganda is a very strong side and I think they gave us several learning points,” added the coach.

He said after reaching the quarter finals during the 2014 event in South Africa they are now focused to go a step better and win the trophy. "We are hungry to make the people in Gabon happy,” he added.

Gabon is staged in group A against host Rwanda and they will open their campaign against Morocco on Saturday before meeting Rwanda while their last group game will pit them against Cote d’Ivoire.