Home Football AFCONGabon Government suspends National Team after ‘disgraceful’ AFCON exit, bans Aubameyang

Gabon Government suspends National Team after ‘disgraceful’ AFCON exit, bans Aubameyang

Jan 1, 2026 10:40 AM GMT+00:00

SportsLigue

Football

Gabon Government suspends National Team after ‘disgraceful’ AFCON exit, bans Aubameyang

Gabon’s government has taken drastic action following the country’s humiliating exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, announcing the indefinite suspension of the national team, the ban of senior players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga, and the dissolution of the entire coaching staff. The decision comes after Gabon finished bottom of Group F, losing all three of their matches at the tournament.

Government labels AFCON campaign ‘Disgraceful’

In a statement read on national television, the Gabonese government described the Panthers’ AFCON performance as “disgraceful”, saying it ran counter to the values of professionalism, ethics, and national pride expected of those representing the country.

As part of the sanctions:

The national team has been suspended until further notice
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga have been excluded from selection
The entire technical and coaching staff has been dissolved

Senior Players Targeted

Aubameyang, who plays for Marseille, is Gabon’s all-time leading goalscorer with 41 goals, while Ecuele Manga is the most capped player in the nation’s history, with 105 appearances.

Ecuele Manga featured in Gabon’s first two group matches but was dropped for the final fixture against Ivory Coast. Aubameyang scored in the 3-2 defeat to Mozambique but missed the Ivory Coast match due to a reported thigh injury.

Despite those absences, both players were singled out by the government and formally removed from the national setup.

Collapse against Ivory Coast seals fate

Gabon’s elimination was confirmed in dramatic fashion. They led Ivory Coast 2-0 in their final Group F match and appeared on course for a morale-boosting victory, only to collapse late on.

Goals from Jean-Philippe Krasso just before half-time, followed by strikes in the final 10 minutes from Evann Guessand and Bazoumana Traore, completed a stunning comeback for the defending champions and condemned Gabon to a third straight defeat.

The loss marked Gabon’s first AFCON campaign without a single point since 1994.

Coach dismissed, Federation under pressure

Head coach Thierry Mouyouma, a former Gabon international with more than 30 caps, will also leave his position following the government’s decision to dissolve the technical staff.

In its statement, the government directly challenged the Gabonese Football Federation (FEGAFOOT), calling on it to “assume all its responsibilities” in addressing the state of the national team.

Setbacks continue for Gabonese football

The AFCON disappointment follows another recent setback. In November, Gabon failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, losing a one-legged playoff semi-final to Nigeria. Despite winning eight of their 10 World Cup qualifiers, Gabon finished one point behind group leaders Ivory Coast, missing out on automatic qualification.

With the national team suspended and senior figures removed, Gabonese football now faces a period of deep uncertainty. It remains unclear when the Panthers will return to international competition or how the federation plans to rebuild following unprecedented government intervention.