Gabon’s government has taken unprecedented action following the Panthers’ disastrous AFCON 2025 group-stage exit, announcing the indefinite suspension of the national team, the dissolution of the entire technical staff, and the permanent exclusion of two senior players: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and captain Bruno Ecuele Manga.
In a statement broadcast on national television on January 1, 2026, acting Sports Minister Simplice-Désiré Mamboula described Gabon’s campaign as “disgraceful,” pointing to three consecutive defeats: a 1–0 loss to Cameroon, a 3–2 defeat against Mozambique, and a dramatic 3–2 loss to Ivory Coast despite holding a 2–0 lead.
As part of what authorities are calling a “total reset,” head coach Thierry Mouyouma and his entire technical team have been dismissed, while all national team activities have been suspended until further notice. Aubameyang, 36, Gabon’s all-time leading scorer with 41 goals, and Ecuele Manga, 37, the country’s most-capped player with 105 appearances, have both been permanently barred from future selection. Aubameyang, who was injured, missed the final group match and returned early to Marseille, while Ecuele Manga was dropped for the clash against Ivory Coast.
Gabon finished bottom of Group F with zero points, marking one of the worst AFCON performances in the nation’s history. While government intervention in football affairs was once common across Africa, such moves are now rare due to FIFA’s strict regulations on political interference, raising concerns that Gabon’s football federation could face sanctions.
The sweeping measures underscore the growing pressure from President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema for deep reforms in Gabonese football, signaling the end of an era and the beginning of a controversial rebuilding process.
