Gabon Government Suspends National Team After “Disgraceful Performance” at AFCON

By Francis Onyach - Reporter

Kenya , January 1 2026 - The Gabonese government has taken extraordinary action following the national team’s disappointing exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, announcing the suspension of the entire national side until further notice and imposing sanctions on senior players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga.

In a strongly worded official statement delivered on national television by Acting Sports Minister Simplice-Désiré Mamboula, the government described the Panthers’ performance at the tournament as “disgraceful” and contrary to the values of ethics and exemplary conduct upheld by the Republic.

As a result, authorities have ordered the dissolution of the technical staff, the indefinite suspension of national team activities, and the exclusion of both Aubameyang and Ecuele Manga from future selection.

Gabon finished bottom of Group F after losing all three of their matches, including a 3–2 defeat to Ivory Coast, despite taking a 2–0 lead in that final game, a collapse that appeared to be the final straw for officials. Earlier losses to Cameroon and Mozambique had already left the side eliminated and under heavy criticism from fans and leadership.

The sanctions include:

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Suspending the national team indefinitely until further notice.
Dissolving the coaching staff following the poor results.
Excluding veteran captain Bruno Ecuele Manga and captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the national squad.

Aubameyang, Gabon’s all-time leading scorer, had already returned to his French club Olympique de Marseille before the final match due to a thigh injury and did not play against Ivory Coast. Ecuele Manga, the country’s most capped player, had also been absent from that game.

The scale of the government’s response is unusual in modern African football, where FIFA generally opposes direct political interference in the running of national associations. It remains unclear how long the suspension will last or what steps Gabon’s football federation will take next.