Gabon government sacks Aubameyang, suspends national team at AFCON 2025

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and 1 different played banned aft Gabon eliminated from Africa Cup of Nations radical stage.

Gabon’s authorities has suspended the nationalist team, sacking  the manager and kicking prima guardant Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang disconnected the squad successful the aftermath of 3 defeats astatine the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.

Gabon’s acting Sports Minister Simplice-Desire Mamboula connected Wednesday announced the suspension ⁠of the nationalist squad connected tv aft they finished past successful their radical and ​were eliminated from the tourney successful Morocco.

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“Given the Panthers’ disgraceful ‍performance astatine the Africa Cup of Nations, the authorities has decided to dissolve the coaching staff, suspend the nationalist squad until further notice, and exclude players Bruno ‍Ecuele Manga ⁠and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang,” Mamboula said aft a 3-2 nonaccomplishment to the Ivory Coast successful Marrakesh.

Gabon, coached by erstwhile defender Thierry Mouyouma, had already been eliminated aft losing their opening brace of Group F fixtures to Cameroon and Mozambique, but successful their last outing were 2-0 up implicit the defending ​champions earlier conceding 3 goals and going down ‌to a second-string Ivorian lineup.

Neither Aubameyang nor seasoned defender Ecuele Manga played connected Wednesday, with Aubameyang having returned to his French nine Olympique de Marseille for attraction connected ‌a thigh injury.

The erstwhile African Footballer of the Year responded connected societal media, saying connected X: “I ‌think the team’s problems are overmuch deeper than ⁠the idiosyncratic I am.”

Aubameyang, astatine 36, had apt played his past crippled for Gabon successful their decision by Mozambique, arsenic was besides apt the lawsuit with the 37-year-old erstwhile ‌Cardiff City defender Ecuele Manga.

Disbanding the nationalist squad utilized to beryllium a communal absorption successful Africa to disappointing results, but since satellite football’s governing ‍body FIFA has taken a hard stance against authorities interference successful the moving of shot associations, it has been a uncommon occurrence.