Gabon’s disastrous Africa Cup of Nations campaign has triggered sweeping consequences, with the government suspending the national team, dismissing the coaching staff and dropping star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the Panthers setup.
The drastic measures were announced by Gabon’s acting minister for sports, Simplice-Désiré Mamboula, shortly after the team’s exit from the tournament in Morocco, where they suffered three straight defeats in the group stage.
Reacting to Wednesday’s dramatic 3–2 loss to Côte d’Ivoire in Marrakech, Mamboula did not mince his words.
“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 stated.
Gabon, under the guidance of former international defender Thierry Mouyouma, had already seen their fate sealed before the final group match, following back-to-back losses to Cameroon and Mozambique in Group F.
Neither Aubameyang nor veteran defender Bruno Ecuele Manga featured in the defeat to the Ivorians.
The former African Footballer of the Year had earlier returned to his club Olympique de Marseille after picking up a thigh injury during the tournament.
Amid mounting criticism, Aubameyang broke his silence on social media, pushing back against suggestions that individual players were to blame for Gabon’s struggles.
“I think the team’s problems are much deeper than the individual I am,” wrote the former Arsenal and Chelsea striker on X.
