The Gabonese government has taken the extraordinary step of suspending the country’s national football team following a disastrous Africa Cup of Nations campaign that ended in three straight defeats.
Acting Sports Minister Simplice-Désiré Mamboula announced the decision shortly after Gabon bowed out of the tournament, citing poor performance and deeper structural issues within the team setup.
As part of the sweeping changes, head coach Thierry Mouyouma has been sacked, while long-serving captain Bruno Ecuele Manga and star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have been ruled out of future national team selections.
Aubameyang did not feature in Gabon’s final group match — a loss to hosts Ivory Coast — having returned to Marseille for treatment on a thigh injury. In the aftermath of the elimination, the former Arsenal and Barcelona striker appeared to distance himself from the team’s struggles, posting on X:
“I think the team’s problems are much deeper than the individual I am.”
The statement has fueled speculation that the 35-year-old may have already played his last international match for Gabon. With Manga also excluded from future plans, the suspension signals the end of an era for Gabonese football, raising serious questions about leadership, player management, and long-term strategy within the federation.
It remains unclear how long the suspension will last or what conditions must be met for the national team’s reinstatement, but the government’s intervention underscores the depth of frustration following one of Gabon’s worst AFCON campaigns in recent history.
