Gabon’s government has announced the suspension of the country’s national football team, banned veteran players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga, and dismissed the entire coaching crew following the team’s disappointing outing at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The decision was announced late Wednesday by the Minister of Sports, Simplice-Désiré Mamboula, after Gabon suffered a 3–2 defeat to defending champions Côte d’Ivoire, sealed by a stoppage-time winner from Bazoumana Touré. The loss marked Gabon’s third defeat in three matches, leaving the Panthers bottom of Group F behind Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and Mozambique.
Describing the team’s performance as unacceptable, the minister said the government had resolved to dissolve the technical staff, suspend the national team indefinitely, and remove Aubameyang and Ecuele Manga from the squad.
Although the announcement video was briefly taken down from official platforms, it was later reposted on Thursday.
Gabon’s early exit from the tournament was reviewed by the Council of Ministers following Sunday’s loss to Mozambique, ranked 102nd in the world, which mathematically eliminated the team from the competition. Aubameyang had returned to his club side, Marseille, after that match due to a thigh injury.
Reacting to the development, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema said the team’s performance had dealt a blow to national pride, citing poor organisation and mismanagement of resources as key issues. He promised far-reaching reforms to restore discipline, accountability, and ambition in the administration of sports in the country.
However, the government’s actions could attract sanctions from world football’s governing body, FIFA, which strictly prohibits political interference in the affairs of national football associations.
