The Gabonese government has imposed sweeping sanctions on its national football team following a humiliating outing at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 in Morocco, triggering one of the most drastic interventions by a state in African football in recent years.
In an announcement made on national television on January 1, 2026, Acting Sports Minister Simplice-Désiré Mamboula confirmed the indefinite suspension of all national team activities, the dismissal of head coach Thierry Mouyouma and his entire technical bench, and the permanent exclusion of senior players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga from future international duty.
The minister described Gabon’s AFCON campaign as a “disgraceful performance” that fell far below national expectations and values, insisting that decisive action was necessary to restore pride and accountability within the country’s football structures.
Winless AFCON campaign sparks outrage
Gabon endured a torrid tournament in Group F, finishing bottom without a single point. The Panthers opened their campaign with a narrow 1–0 defeat to Cameroon before suffering a damaging 3–2 loss to Mozambique — a historic result that handed Mozambique their first-ever AFCON victory.
The final group match proved to be the breaking point. Gabon squandered a 2–0 lead against a largely second-string Côte d’Ivoire side, conceding three late goals to lose 3–2 in dramatic fashion. The collapse sealed their elimination and sparked widespread anger among fans and political leaders back home.
In a strongly worded government statement, authorities said the performance was “dishonourable” and contrary to the principles of “ethics and exemplarity” upheld by the country’s Fifth Republic. The statement outlined the dissolution of the technical staff, suspension of the national team until further notice, and the sidelining of Aubameyang and Ecuele Manga, while urging the Gabonese Football Federation (FEGAFOOT) to “take full responsibility” for the crisis.
Aubameyang era ends abruptly
The decision effectively brings the international career of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to an abrupt end. The former Arsenal and Chelsea striker, now playing for Olympique de Marseille, returned early to France during the tournament due to a thigh injury. Reacting on social media, the veteran forward suggested the problems ran deeper than individual players.
“I believe the team’s problems go much deeper than the individual that I am,” Aubameyang wrote, hinting at long-standing structural and managerial issues within Gabonese football.
Defender Bruno Ecuele Manga, formerly of Cardiff City, has also been permanently barred from representing the national side, marking a complete reset of Gabon’s senior leadership core.
President weighs in
President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema had already voiced his displeasure earlier in the tournament, particularly after the loss to Mozambique on December 28. He criticised what he termed a “lack of method and dispersion of resources” and warned of a “worrying erosion of patriotic spirit” in the management of sporting affairs.
The developments now leave Gabonese football at a crossroads, with the national team frozen indefinitely and the federation under pressure to implement wide-ranging reforms. As AFCON 2025 moves into its knockout stages, Gabon’s dramatic fallout stands as a stark reminder of the high stakes and growing political scrutiny surrounding football performance across the continent.
