The Gabonese government has announced the suspension of its national football team and banned star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang following their lackluster campaign in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Morocco.
Acting Sports Minister Simplice-Desire Mamboula made the announcement on national television after the Panthers finished bottom of Group F, losing all three of their matches. The team suffered a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon, followed by a 3-2 loss to Mozambique, and another 3-2 defeat against Ivory Coast.
Mamboula criticized the team’s performance as “disgraceful,” stating, “Given the Panthers’ disappointing showing at AFCON, 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.”
Notably, Aubameyang and veteran defender Ecuele Manga did not participate in the final match, as Aubameyang returned to his French club, Olympique de Marseille, for treatment on a thigh injury.
In response, Aubameyang took to social media platform X, saying, “I think the team’s problems are far deeper than the little person who I am.”
This drastic action reflects the widespread disappointment in Gabon’s performance and the government’s commitment to addressing the underlying issues within the national team.