Gabon has taken the rare step of suspending its national football team and removing senior players after a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations campaign ended in an early exit.
The decision was announced by the government late Wednesday following Gabon’s third straight defeat at the tournament in Morocco, according to a televised statement carried by Reuters. The move included the dismissal of head coach Thierry Mouyouma and the exclusion of captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang from future selection.
Acting Sports Minister Simplice Desire Mamboula said the measures were a direct response to what he described as a failure to meet national expectations at the finals.
“Given the Panthers’ performance at the Africa Cup of Nations, the government has decided to dissolve the coaching staff, suspend the national team until further notice, and exclude players Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang,” Mamboula said after Gabon’s 3 to 2 loss to Ivory Coast in Marrakech.
Gabon finished bottom of Group F after losing to Cameroon and Mozambique in their opening matches. Although already eliminated, they surrendered a two goal lead against a rotated Ivory Coast side in their final group game, conceding three unanswered goals.
Aubameyang, 36, did not feature in the final match after returning to Olympique de Marseille for treatment on a thigh injury. Veteran defender Bruno Ecuele Manga, 37, was also absent.
In a response posted on X, Aubameyang pushed back against personal blame for the team’s struggles. “I think the team’s problems are much deeper than the individual I am,” he wrote.
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The defeat to Mozambique earlier in the group stage is now likely to stand as Aubameyang’s final appearance for Gabon, bringing to a close an international career that included winning African Footballer of the Year in 2015. Ecuele Manga, a former Cardiff City defender, is also widely expected to retire from international duty.
Direct government intervention in national football teams was once common across parts of Africa after poor tournament results. However, such actions have become increasingly unusual as FIFA has strengthened its stance against political interference in football associations, with sanctions possible for violations.
It remains unclear how long Gabon’s suspension will last or how the changes will affect upcoming World Cup and continental qualifying matches. The Gabonese Football Federation has yet to issue a separate statement.