Gabon suspends national team, dismisses players after ‘disgraceful’ AFCON group-stage exit

The Gabonese government has indefinitely suspended its men’snational team following the group-stage exit from the ongoing Africa Cup ofNations (AFCON) in Morocco. Announcing the sanction, Simplice-Desire Mamboula, thecountry’s acting sports minister, said veterans Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang andBruno Ecuele Manga have been kicked off the team permanently. The minister also dissolved the team’s technical crew,headed by Thierry Mouyouma, a former national team defender. “Given the Panthers’ disgraceful performance at the AfricaCup of Nations, the government has decided to dissolve the coaching staff,suspend the national team until further notice, and exclude players BrunoEcuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang,” the acting minister said.Gabon lost all three games in Group F of the 2025 AFCON.They were defeated by Cameroon by a lone goal in their first game. Mozambiquethen beat them 3-2 in their second match. The final group match was even moredramatic. Gabon surrendered a 2-0 lead against Cote d’Ivoire and lost 3-2.However, neither Aubameyang nor Manga played the last groupgame on Wednesday. Aubameyang returned to Olympique Marseille earlier in theweek after a thigh injury.A month before the AFCON, Gabon also lost to Nigeria in thesemi-final of the African play-off for the 2026 World Cup. They had held on fora 1-1 draw in regular time before capitulating to a 4-1 defeat in extra time.

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