The Acting Minister of Sports in Gabon, Dr. Semblés Désiré Mambula, announced the dissolution of the senior national football team and the suspension of its participation in official competitions for an indefinite period.
Minister Mambula appeared in a video clip, in which he said: “As a result of the Panthers’ dishonorable performance in the African Cup of Nations, the government decided to dissolve the technical staff and suspend the national team until further notice, in addition to excluding players Borno Ekwele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.”
Disappointing exclusion
The Gabon national team failed to secure a qualifying place for the quarter-finals, despite the availability of three visas for Group Six.
The teammates of the French Olympique Marseille top scorer, Aubameyang, are at the bottom of the group that includes defending champions Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Mozambique.
The Gabonese national team suffered three defeats, leaving the competition empty-handed.
Public anger increased against coach Terry Muyoma’s squad, after it was unable to defeat its direct competitor in the group, Mozambique.
The Mozambican national team guaranteed its place in the quarter-finals after its victory over Gabon in the second round, 3-2.
🎥 HIGHLIGHTS: 🇬🇦 2–3 🇨🇮
From behind to victorious, Côte d’Ivoire complete a stunning comeback against Gabon! #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/EbrawYk9Ih
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 1, 2026
The Gabonese team was superior in its final match against Ivory Coast by two goals to none, before collapsing in the last minutes of the second half.
The team suffered from many injuries, most notably those suffered by Aubameyang, which prevented him from completing the course with his teammates.
The Gabonese Federation published a media statement prior to the confrontation with Ivory Coast, in which it confirmed that Aubameyang had been released to return to his club for fear of worsening his thigh injury.
The French club’s technical staff agreed with its counterpart from the Gabonese national team not to include the player in the first match against Cameroon because he felt pain during training.
The Gabonians violated the agreement and Pierre Emerick also played the Mozambique match and scored a goal, which prompted Marseille to protest to the African Confederation.
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