Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been dramatically ousted from the Gabon national team by the country's own government - who have suspended the entire squad and coaching set-up after their miserable AFCON elimination. '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,' he said. Former Cardiff star Ecuele Manga was dropped against Ivory Coast by head coach Thierry Mayouma, who has also now left his post, while Aubameyang returned to his club Marseille with a thigh injury before the match. The disbanding of the national team by governments used to be common practice in African nations but FIFA has since made efforts to clamp down on it. The footballing governing body suspended Mali's Football Association in March 2017 after the nation's sports minister Housseïni Amion Guindo dissolved its executive committee.

Source: Daily Mail January 01, 2026 18:29 UTC