The Gabonese government has suspended the national team, dissolved its coaching staff, and banned stars Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga following a winless exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Gabonese government has officially suspended the national football team following a winless campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
After finishing bottom of Group F, the “Panthers” saw their campaign end in a dramatic collapse against Ivory Coast, where they surrendered a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2.
In a televised address, the state labeled the team’s performance as “disgraceful” and diametrically opposed to the values of the republic.
In a move that has shocked the footballing world, legendary striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and captain Bruno Ecuele Manga have been permanently “excluded” from representing the nation.
Aubameyang, the country’s all-time leading scorer, and Ecuele Manga, the most capped player, were singled out as the government moved to “dissolve the technical staff.”
This decision effectively ends the tenure of head coach Thierry Mayouma and his entire backroom team after the group-stage exit.
The suspension marks a new low for Gabon, coming just months after their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The government’s full statement demanded that the Gabonese Football Federation “assume all its responsibilities” in light of the failure.
By removing their two most influential veterans and halting all national team activities “until further notice,” the state has signaled a total reset of the country’s sporting infrastructure following years of underachievement.