In a drastic response to a deeply disappointing performance at the Africa Cup of Nations, the Gabonese government has taken the extraordinary step of suspending its national football team indefinitely. The decision follows the team’s elimination from the tournament after finishing at the bottom of its group without a single victory.
The acting minister for sports made the announcement publicly, citing the team’s “disgraceful” results as the primary reason for the sweeping measures. Alongside the team’s suspension, the entire coaching staff has been dismissed. Furthermore, two of the squad’s most experienced players, striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and defender Bruno Ecuele Manga, have been formally excluded from the national setup.
The Panthers’ campaign concluded with a dramatic 3-2 loss to Côte d’Ivoire, a match in which they surrendered a two-goal lead against a heavily rotated opponent. This defeat came after earlier losses to Cameroon and Mozambique, which had already sealed their fate in the competition.
Neither Aubameyang nor Ecuele Manga featured in the final match. Aubameyang, who had returned to his club for treatment on an injury, addressed the situation online, suggesting the national team’s issues extend far beyond any single player.
This type of governmental intervention, involving the dissolution of a national team, was once more frequent but has become increasingly uncommon. Global football’s governing body maintains strict regulations against political interference in the sport’s administration, which typically discourages such direct actions.
The move signals a period of profound reckoning for Gabonese football, with the future of the national program now in question as authorities seek a path forward from a catastrophic tournament.