Football runs through the DNA, through heritage, through everything that can’t be replaced. The greatest figure in Gabon, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, embodies exactly that: a world-class player born in France, raised in a multicultural family, yet forever tied to the nation that shaped his lineage. His father, Pierre François Aubameyang, captained the Gabonese national team, influencing a career-defining choice — turning down the chance to play for France or Spain to represent Gabon.

But that decision, filled with affection and identity, also came with conflict, controversy and episodes that impacted his relationship with the federation and with fans.

A Career Filled With Triumphs, Friction and Wear

Aubameyang made his international debut for Gabon in 2009, quickly becoming captain, all-time top scorer and the face of a national team that reached the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals. Despite his brilliance, the World Cup always remained out of reach.

His relationship with the federation was turbulent: public disputes over technical decisions — such as the widely criticized announcement that his father would become head coach — clashes with officials, and institutional scandals, including the arrest of youth coach Patrick Assoumou Eyi for widespread abuse, a topic Aubameyang chose not to address publicly.

In 2020, the team lived through a notorious incident: detained for hours at an airport in Gambia, forced to sleep on the floor without assistance. The images spread worldwide, highlighting the deep structural issues in Gabonese football. Criticism of the star intensified, especially after his controversial exit from the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, when he was separated from the squad due to alleged health issues amid rumors of clashes with staff.

Retirement, Return and the Redemption of a Goal Scorer

In 2022, Aubameyang announced his retirement from the national team after 13 years, exhausted by internal conflict. But President Ali Bongo personally reached out to convince him to return. Although he accepted, tension lingered: unpaid bonuses, logistical failures and new protests saw him once again as one of the most outspoken voices in the squad.

Despite the chaos, the forward responded in the best way he knows — on the pitch. In a recent match against Gambia, Aubameyang scored four goals in four chances, proving that at 36, he remains the heartbeat of a nation dreaming of an historic qualification.

In a footballing environment full of contradictions, Aubameyang stands as the symbol of Gabon’s reality: talent, pride and a long road still ahead.