Gabon’s sports minister has announced major sanctions against the national football team following its disappointing performance at the Africa Cup of Nations, including the suspension of the entire squad, the dismissal of the coaching staff, and the banning of senior players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga.
The measures come after Gabon’s 3–2 loss to defending champions Ivory Coast on Wednesday, December 31, with Bazoumana Touré scoring a late winner. The defeat marked Gabon’s third straight loss, leaving the Panthers bottom of Group F behind Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Mozambique.
Speaking on Gabonese television, Sports Minister Simplice-Desire Mamboula said, “Given the Panthers’ disgraceful performance at AFCON, the government has decided to dissolve the technical staff, suspend the national team until further notice, and remove players Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.” Although the announcement video was briefly removed from official platforms, it was republished on Thursday, January 1.
Gabon’s campaign had already faced criticism after a 3–2 defeat to 102nd-ranked Mozambique earlier in the tournament, which confirmed the team’s elimination from the knockout stages. Following that match, Aubameyang returned to his club Marseille with a thigh injury.
President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema also commented on the team’s struggles, calling the situation damaging to the country’s identity. “This has weakened part of our national identity,” he said, noting that the issues reflected “a lack of method and the dispersion of resources.” The president promised “strong and structural decisions” to restore discipline, responsibility, and ambition in national sports management.
However, the government’s actions may attract scrutiny from FIFA, which strictly prohibits political interference in the affairs of its member football associations.
