The government of Gabon has taken the extraordinary step of permanently excluding from the national football team, in a sweeping intervention that has sent shockwaves through African and global football.
The decision follows Gabon’s disastrous exit from the 2025 tournament in Morocco, where the Panthers finished bottom of their group without a single win.
Speaking on national television, Gabon’s Acting Minister of Sports, Dr Simplice-Désiré Mamboula, announced a series of drastic measures aimed at what he described as a “complete reset” of the national team. These include the dissolution of the entire technical team, the indefinite suspension of all national team activities, and the exclusion of Aubameyang alongside veteran defender Bruno Ecuele Manga from any future call-ups.
According to the government, the intervention was necessitated by what it termed a “disgraceful and unacceptable performance” at the continental showpiece. Gabon lost all three group matches, a campaign that was symbolically summed up by their final defeat — a dramatic 3–2 loss to defending champions after surrendering a two-goal lead.
For Aubameyang, Gabon’s most celebrated football export and all-time leading scorer, the announcement marks a painful and abrupt end to his international career. The 36-year-old forward, who has captained the national side for several years, had already left the team’s camp earlier in the tournament due to a thigh injury and did not feature in the final match.
Many observers expected Aubameyang to announce his retirement from international football after the tournament, allowing for a dignified farewell to a player widely regarded as Gabon’s greatest-ever footballer. Instead, the government’s decision has effectively closed that chapter without ceremony, raising questions about respect for player legacy and due process.
Beyond its sporting implications, the move has sparked serious concerns about governance and political interference. Under the statutes of both and the , direct government involvement in the management or selection of national teams is strictly prohibited.
Historically, similar actions in other countries have resulted in swift sanctions, including suspension from international competitions and the freezing of development funding. While neither FIFA nor CAF has yet issued an official statement on Gabon’s situation, football analysts warn that the country could soon face disciplinary action if the decisions are not reversed or clarified.
The uncertainty has left Gabonese football at a crossroads. With the national team’s activities suspended, its technical leadership dismissed, and its most iconic player barred by executive decree, the immediate future of the Panthers is clouded in doubt.
Critics argue that while accountability for poor performance is necessary, government overreach risks doing more harm than good, potentially isolating Gabon from international football and undermining long-term development. Supporters of the decision, however, believe drastic action was required to address years of underachievement and restore national pride.
As the dust settles, attention now turns to FIFA and CAF, whose response will likely determine the next chapter of this unfolding saga. For Gabon, the challenge lies in balancing reform with respect for international football regulations — and in finding a path forward after one of the most dramatic government interventions the sport has seen in recent decades.
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