Gabon government suspends national team, sack captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and coach after dismal AFCON showing

Gabon team poses for a group photo during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

After Gabon was eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations without recording a single win, the government announced the immediate suspension of the national team and sacking of coach Thierry Mouyouma as well as kicking captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and defender Ecuele Manga off it.

After losing their opening two encounters against Cameroon and Mozambique, Gabon, who were already out of the Round of 16 contention for the AFCON, played the last Group stage match against Ivory Coast without Aubameyang as well as Manga. Former Arsenal player Aubameyang had already left the national squad to his French cub Olympique de Marseille, a day before the Ivory Coast encounter for treatment on a thigh injury.

Gabon’s Minister of Sports announced on television the suspension of the national team after they finished last in their ‍group ⁠and were eliminated from the tournament in Morocco. “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,” said acting sports minister Simplice-Desire Mamboula after Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to ​the Ivory Coast in Marrakech.

The match between Gabon and Ivory Coast was heavily in favour of the former after they led 2-0 over the defending champions before conceding three goals and losing the match 3-2. Bazoumana Touré scored in stoppage time from a Christopher Opéri cross. Opéri had also set up Evann Guessand for the equalizer in the 84th minute. Both of the late scorers were substitutes, as coach Emerse Faé was forced to make changes to counter Gabon’s early dominance.

The Panthers raced ahead with goals from Guélor Kanga and Denis Bouanga, before Jean‑Philippe Krasso pulled one back at the end of the first half. “We wanted this first place, and we had to work in the second half for it,” Faé said.

Five-time winner Cameroon also came from behind to beat Mozambique 2-1 in the other group game. Both Ivory Coast and Cameroon finished with seven points each, with a goal difference of plus 2, but Ivory Coast scored five goals, compared to Cameroon’s four. Mozambique also progressed to the last 16 as one of the four best third-place finishers.