Gabon government bans Aubameyang
Gabon's government has suspended the national team after its group stage exit from the Africa Cup of Nations.
The coaching staff, led by head coach Thierry Mayouma, who made over 30 appearances for Gabon in his playing career, has been dissolved.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and captain Bruno Ecuele Manga have been banned from selection, despite both missing the final group game against Ivory Coast.
Gabon lost its opening two matches at AFCON 2025 but took a 2-0 lead in its final group game against the Elephants, only to collapse and lose 3-2 thanks to Bazoumana Toure’s stoppage-time winner.
As such, it finished bottom of Group F and after its exit, the Gabonese government released a statement, which was read on national television.
The statement said: "Given the Panthers' disgraceful performance at the Total Energies Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and considering the multifaceted effects that are diametrically opposed to the values of ethics and exemplarity advocated by the Fifth Republic, the Government has decided: to dissolve the technical staff; to suspend the national team until further notice; to remove players Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the team.
"Furthermore, the Government calls on the Gabonese Football Federation to assume all its responsibilities."
Aubameyang, Gabon's all-time top scorer with 41 goals, returned to Marseille with an injury ahead of the nation's third match, while Ecuele Manga, the most capped player (105 appearances), was dropped against Ivory Coast, having started the first two games.
Despite winning eight of its 10 World Cup qualifiers, Gabon failed to qualify for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico after losing to Nigeria in a play-off semi-final.
