Gabon blacklist Aubameyang, suspend national team after AFCON exit

The government of Gabon has announced that striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will no longer be selected for national team duty, and suspended the team “until further notice” after crashing out of the Africa Cup of Nations AFCON 2025 in Morocco.

Acting sports minister, Simplice-Desire Mamboula, also announced the sack of coach Thierry Mouyouma.

Gabon featured in Group F alongside Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Mozambique, but lost to all three opponents for a surprising limp exit.

Lacking match fitness, Aubameyang was a substitute in the first group match, but started and scored in the second match. He however returned to his club before the last group match due to injury.

Local news media had reported that Gabon President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema had discussed the country’s early elimination in Morocco at the council of ministers’ meeting on December 29, and far-reaching decisions to suspend players, and the Panthers’ team were taken.

Mamboula announced the decisions to the media in a television broadcast after the 3-2 defeat to Ivory Coast on Wednesday night, further revealing that veteran players Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will no longer be available for selection in the national team.

“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,” Mamboula said.

Aubameyang played 83 matches for Gabon, and is the country’s record goalscorer with 40 international goals.

Manga, the team’s captain, has a record 114 appearances.

Gabon reached the round of 16 stage in their last appearance in 2021, but made it a sixth group stage exit in Morocco, from nine AFCON tournaments.

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