Invisible riches of Port-Gentil where Messi laid first stone

A Gabon supporter blows a whistle ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group A football match between Cameroon and Guinea-Bissau at the Stade de l'Amitie Sino-Gabonaise in Libreville on January 18, 2017. / AFP PHOTO /

Stade de Port-Gentil is so new that you can smell the paint in certain areas while the legs of the chairs in the media stand were still covered in bubble wrap. You can see the adhesive on the tiles in the toilets in certain areas was recently applied.

The grass on the pitch showed it still needed time to grow, easily succumbing from being punished in two matches. The sand-like foundation underneath the grass popped up from the pressure. The precinct is still receiving some final touches, including where there is supposed to be grass. At the moment there is just sand, and a sign that says don’t walk on the grass.