In a dramatic and severe response to a disastrous Africa Cup of Nations campaign, the government of Gabon has taken the extraordinary step of suspending its entire national football team. The drastic measures also include the dismissal of the coaching staff and the exclusion of two veteran stars, former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and defender Bruno Ecuele Manga.
Government Announces Drastic Measures After 'Disgraceful' Performance
The sweeping sanctions were announced publicly by the country's acting sports minister, Simplice-Désiré Mamboula, on national television. The announcement came immediately after Gabon's final group stage match, a 3-2 defeat to defending champions Côte d'Ivoire in Marrakech on Wednesday.
Minister Mamboula did not mince his words, labelling the team's overall display at the tournament as "disgraceful". He confirmed that the government had decided to dissolve the coaching staff led by Thierry Mouyouma, suspend the national team indefinitely, and permanently exclude both Aubameyang and Ecuele Manga from future selection.
A Campaign of Collapse in Morocco
The Panthers' journey at the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 in Morocco was short and deeply disappointing. They finished at the very bottom of Group F, having lost all three of their matches. Their elimination was confirmed after opening defeats to Cameroon and Mozambique.
The final match against a second-string Ivorian side encapsulated their failure. Gabon had raced into a 2-0 lead but spectacularly collapsed, conceding three goals to lose 3-2. Notably, neither Aubameyang, 36, nor Ecuele Manga, 37, featured in that match. Aubameyang had already returned to his club, Marseille, for treatment on a thigh injury.
Aubameyang's Response and Wider Implications
Reacting to the news of his exclusion from the national side, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang took to social media platform X. The former African Footballer of the Year suggested the issues plaguing Gabonese football ran far deeper than any single player. He stated: "I think the team's problems are much deeper than the individual I am."
The move to disband a national team was once a common punitive reaction to poor results in African football. However, it has become increasingly rare following FIFA's strict rules against government interference in football associations. This intervention from Gabon's government could potentially attract scrutiny and sanctions from world football's governing body.
For Aubameyang and Ecuele Manga, their international careers appear to be over. Their last appearances for Gabon were likely in the defeat to Mozambique, marking a bitter end for two of the nation's most prominent footballing figures.
