In a drastic response to a humiliating tournament exit, the Gabonese government has taken severe action against its national football team. The state has announced an immediate suspension of the squad, dissolved the entire coaching staff, and excluded two of its most iconic players, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga.
Government Announces Drastic Measures After Group Stage Disaster
The decision was delivered to the nation by the acting Minister of Sports, Simplice-Désiré Mamboula, on state television. This followed Gabon's elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 in Morocco, where the team finished at the very bottom of Group F. The Panthers suffered three consecutive defeats, culminating in a painful 3-2 loss to Ivory Coast on Wednesday, January 1, 2026, after surrendering a 2-0 lead.
"Given the Panthers’ disgraceful 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," Minister Mamboula stated unequivocally.
A Tournament of Missed Opportunities and Final Exits
Gabon's campaign was disastrous from the start, with opening losses to Cameroon and Mozambique. The final collapse against a second-string Ivorian side proved to be the last straw. The team was under the guidance of coach Thierry Mouyouma, whose tenure has now been abruptly ended by the government's order to dissolve the technical staff.
Notably, the two veteran players axed from the team, Aubameyang (36) and Ecuele Manga (37), did not feature in the final match. Aubameyang had returned to his club, Olympique de Marseille, for injury treatment, while Ecuele Manga was also absent. The pair are legends of Gabonese football; Ecuele Manga is the nation's most-capped player with 105 appearances, and Aubameyang remains its all-time top scorer with 41 goals.
Reacting to his exclusion on social media platform X, Aubameyang suggested broader issues, writing, "I think the team’s problems are much deeper than the individual I am." The move likely signals the end of the international careers for both stalwarts.
Broader Implications and a History of Disappointment
In an extended official statement, the government criticized the team's performance as being "diametrically opposed to the values of ethics and exemplarity" and called on the Gabonese Football Federation to "assume all its responsibilities." This type of governmental intervention, while once common in African football, has become rare due to FIFA's strict rules against political interference in the sport.
The AFCON failure adds to a period of deep disappointment for Gabonese football. It comes shortly after the team failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, having lost a crucial one-off play-off semi-final to Nigeria in November. Despite a strong qualifying record of eight wins in ten matches, they finished just one point behind group winners Ivory Coast.
The future of the Gabon national team now hangs in the balance as the government's suspension takes effect, leaving fans and the football federation to ponder a path forward without two of its greatest-ever players.
