Gabon’s government has delivered a dramatic response to the national team’s disastrous Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign, suspending the Panthers, dismissing head coach Thierry Mouyouma and his entire technical staff, and barring senior players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuélé Manga from selection.
The heavy-handed measures followed a calamitous group-stage exit in Morocco that saw Gabon eliminated early after three straight defeats. The Panthers opened their campaign with a narrow 1–0 loss to rivals Cameroon, before being stunned 3–2 by Mozambique. Any faint hopes of redemption evaporated on Wednesday when Gabon squandered a 2–0 lead to lose 3–2 to defending champions Ivory Coast.
In a televised address, Sports Minister Simplice-Désiré Mamboula condemned what he described as the team’s “dishonourable performance,” announcing the suspension of the national side until further notice and the dissolution of the technical staff.
“Considering the multifaceted effects, which run counter to the ethical and exemplary values of the Fifth Republic, the government has decided to dissolve the technical staff, suspend the national team, and exclude players Bruno Ecuélé Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang,” Mamboula declared, adding that the Gabonese Football Federation had been invited to “take full responsibility.”
Aubameyang and Ecuélé Manga captained Gabon in the opening matches, with the former featuring despite managing an injury sustained while playing for Marseille before the tournament. Reacting on social media, Aubameyang distanced himself from the fallout, stating: “I think the team’s problems go far deeper than the little person that I am.”
Hours after the announcement, the government appeared to soften its stance, casting doubt over whether the sanctions will ultimately be enforced. Any formal intervention could place Gabon at odds with FIFA regulations, which prohibit government interference in football federation affairs.
Beyond the results, Gabon’s AFCON campaign was marred by internal disputes, including a public row with Marseille over Aubameyang’s fitness and mounting criticism of Mouyouma’s tactical approach. The coach had previously bristled at what he called club interference.
“This contempt must stop,” Mouyouma said during the tournament. “We are playing in an Africa Cup of Nations, not a recovery camp. During FIFA dates, players belong to their countries.”
Gabon ultimately joined Botswana and Equatorial Guinea as the only teams to exit the tournament without a single point, bringing a chaotic campaign to a bitter and uncertain end.
