In an unprecedented step, Gabon's authorities have declared the immediate suspension of the men's national football team, the termination of the team's coaches, and the exclusion of star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from national duty.
This radical decision comes in the wake of the team's last-place finish at the Afcon tournament in Morocco, where they lost all three matches.
“Given the Panthers’ disgraceful showing at the Africa Cup of Nations, the government has decided to terminate the coaching staff, disband the national team for now, and remove players the two veteran players,” stated acting sports minister Simplice-Désiré Mamboula.
A Campaign of Frustration
Coached by ex-player Thierry Mouyouma, Gabon had already been eliminated after suffering defeats in their opening pair of Group F fixtures to Cameroon and Mozambique.
In their final outing, the Panthers took a two-goal lead over title holders Côte d’Ivoire before conceding three goals to a changed Ivorian lineup, succumbing to a 3-2 defeat in Marrakech.
Veteran Players Not Involved
Both Aubameyang and the veteran defender Bruno Ecuele Manga played in the last game.
The ex-continental player of the year Aubameyang had returned to his club, Marseille, for recovery from a muscle issue.
Reacting to the government's decision on social media, Aubameyang implied the challenges ran deeper than any individual: “I think the team’s problems are far more profound than the player I am.”
At thirty-six and thirty-seven years old each, the defeat by Mozambique likely marked the final international appearance for both Aubameyang and Ecuele Manga.
A Drastic Step in Contemporary Soccer
Dissolving a national side was previously a frequent response in Africa to tournament failures.
However, since FIFA, football’s global governing body, has adopted a firm position against political meddling in the sport's administration, such actions have become increasingly rare in today's football landscape.
