Pierre Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON match between Mozambique and Gabon at the Adrar Stadium, Agadir on the 28 December 2025 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Friday Jan 02, 2026. 11:00
In what was news that made headlines in Africa football media, it was recently reported that the Gabon Government has ‘suspended’ the national team following a poor showing at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Gabon finished at the bottom of Group F at the showpiece after they suffered straight losses against Cameroon, Mozambique and Ivory Coast respectively.
Dubbed as the Group of Death, The Panthers failed to make an impression at the showpiece, which led to immediate action by Gabon’s acting Sports Minister Simplice-Desire Mamboula
In a name dropping statement, the Gabon government made an example of Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who are now ‘excluded’ from the national team.
“Given the Panthers’ disgraceful performance at the Africa Cup of Nations, 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,” Mamboula said in a statement, as per Al Jazeera.
In response to the shocking revelation, Aubameyang took to his X account in saying, “I think the team’s problems are much deeper than the individual I am,” after a turbulent AFCON showing.