Gabon’s government have announced the suspension of the national team, the sacking of the coach and kicked Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang off the squad in the wake of three defeats at the Africa Cup of Nations finals. Gabon’s Minister of Sports announced on television the suspension of the national team after they finished last in their group and were eliminated from the tournament in Morocco. “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,” said acting sports minister Simplice-Desire Mamboula after Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the Ivory Coast in Marrakech. Neither Aubameyang nor veteran defender Ecuele Manga played on Wednesday with Aubameyang having returned to his French club Olympique de Marseille for treatment on a thigh injury. Disbanding the national team used to be a common reaction in Africa to disappointing results but since world football’s governing body Fifa have taken a hard stance against government interference in the running of football associations, it has been a rare occurrence.

Source: Irish Examiner January 01, 2026 15:59 UTC