Gabon Government Suspends National Team After AFCON Exit, Aubameyang Faces Unexpected Sanctions
1 January 2026
Gabon bowed out of the tournament after three defeats.
Gabon's sports minister, Dr. Simplice Désiré Mamboula, announced urgent decisions on Thursday following the team's exit from the Africa Cup of Nations staged in Morocco.
Ivory Coast handed Gabon a dramatic 3-2 victory on Wednesday, in the third and final group-stage fixture.
Gabon left the tournament bottom of Group Six with no points after three straight defeats.
According to the Gabon News Agency, the sports minister announced the national team's activities are suspended until further notice, and the technical staff will be dissolved.
The government, through the sports minister, urged the Gabon Football Federation to 'take responsibility' and announced the sidelining of two key players, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Mang a.
This announcement followed a statement from the president, Brice Clotier Nguiyama, last Monday, signaling that decisive actions would be taken when the time comes.
Two quick thoughts to keep it light: Sniper-style one-liner 1: In Gabon, even the whistle needs a new playbook. Sniper-style one-liner 2: If leadership keeps this up, the only thing moving faster than the ball will be the talk at the next press conference.
