Gabon’s government has taken the extraordinary step of suspending the national football team indefinitely and banning star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang alongside captain Bruno Ecuele Manga following a humiliating group-stage exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The decision, announced on January 1, 2026, comes after the Panthers suffered three consecutive defeats in Group F, finishing bottom with zero points. They lost 1–0 to Cameroon, 3–2 to Mozambique, and 3–2 to defending champions Ivory Coast.
Acting Sports Minister Simplice-Desire Mamboula delivered the announcement on national television, describing the performances as “disgraceful.” The government resolved to dissolve the technical staff, suspend the national team until further notice, and remove Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the squad.
The measures also include the sacking of head coach Thierry Mouyouma and his entire technical crew. President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema had earlier criticised the team’s showing, saying it weakened part of the country’s national identity and exposed a lack of method and poor use of resources.
Aubameyang, Gabon’s all-time leading scorer with about 41 goals in more than 80 appearances, did not feature in the final match against Ivory Coast after returning to Marseille for treatment on a thigh injury sustained earlier in the tournament. The 36-year-old played in the defeats to Cameroon and Mozambique before leaving the squad.
Ecuele Manga, the country’s most-capped player with over 100 appearances, was also missing from the lineup against Ivory Coast after starting the first two games. At 37, both veterans are widely viewed as having played their final matches for Gabon.
The collapse against Ivory Coast summed up Gabon’s campaign. After racing into a 2–0 lead through goals from Guélor Kanga and Denis Bouanga, they conceded three times in the second half, including a stoppage-time winner.
This disappointing AFCON outing stands in contrast to Gabon’s earlier World Cup qualifying run, where they won eight of ten matches but ultimately fell short in the playoffs. Entering the tournament, expectations were high following Aubameyang’s return and the presence of experienced players such as Denis Bouanga and Mario Lemina.
The government’s direct intervention has raised serious concerns about possible sanctions from FIFA, which forbids political interference in football administration. While no immediate response has been announced, similar actions in other countries have previously led to suspensions or fines.
Aubameyang reacted briefly on social media, stating that the team’s problems run deeper than any one individual.
For Gabonese football, this episode marks a major low point. The suspension freezes all national team activities and casts uncertainty over upcoming fixtures, while renewing calls for deep reforms in governance, youth development, and long-term planning to prevent further decline.
