The Gabonese government has officially suspended the operations of the national football team and dissolved its entire technical staff following a disappointing performance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The decision was announced on state television by the acting Minister of Sports, Simplice-Désiré Mamboula, after the “Panthers” finished at the bottom of their group with zero points.
Okay News reports that the government has also permanently removed veteran striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and defender Bruno Ecuele Manga from the national squad. The drastic measures follow a string of losses to Cameroon and Mozambique, ending with a final 3–2 defeat against Ivory Coast, where the team surrendered a two-goal lead.
The coaching crew, led by Thierry Mouyouma, was relieved of its duties as the government described the team’s outing as a “disgraceful performance” that contradicted the nation’s sporting values. Aubameyang, the country’s leading all-time goalscorer, reacted to the news by stating that the team’s underlying issues are much deeper than any single individual.
This intervention follows Gabon’s recent failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a play-off loss to Nigeria. While such government actions are often scrutinized by FIFA regarding political interference, the Gabonese authorities have called on the national football federation to take full responsibility for the team’s restructuring.
