MARRAKECH, Morocco – In a move that has sent shockwaves through African football, the Gabonese government has officially suspended the national team, sacked head coach Thierry Mouyouma, and indefinitely banned star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Sports Minister Simplice-Désiré Mouala announced the drastic measures following the Panthers’ bottom-of-the-group finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. The final blow came on December 31 in a 3-2 defeat to the Ivory Coast—a match where Gabon squandered a two-goal lead.
A Campaign of Collapse
Gabon’s exit was sealed after a winless run in Group B, including losses to Cameroon and Mozambique. Minister Mouala did not hold back in his assessment of the team’s performance, labelling the campaign “disgraceful” and an “affront to the dignity of the nation.”
“Given the Panthers’ disgraceful performance, 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,” Mouala stated during a press conference.
Aubameyang Responds to “Systemic Issues”
Aubameyang, who missed the final match against the Ivory Coast after returning to Marseille for treatment on a thigh injury, expressed his frustration with the decision. The former Arsenal and Chelsea captain suggested that the government is using individual players as scapegoats for wider administrative failures.
“I think the team’s problems are much deeper than the individual I am,” Aubameyang said in a brief statement.
Thierry Mouyouma, who took over the reins in late 2023, sees his two-year tenure come to an end in controversy. While he was credited with stabilising the team during the qualifiers, the collapse in Morocco proved terminal for his position.
The Risk of FIFA Sanctions
The Gabonese government’s decision to “suspend” the team and “dissolve” staff puts the country on a collision course with FIFA. The world football governing body maintains a strict “zero tolerance” policy regarding government interference in national football associations (FEGAFOOT).
Historically, such moves have resulted in immediate global bans from all international competitions. If FIFA intervenes, Gabon could face a lengthy exile from the 2026 World Cup qualifying cycle.