Online Reporter
THE Gabonese government has suspended the national team, banned striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and sacked head coach Thierry Mouyouma following their elimination from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Gabon’s acting sports minister, Simplice-Desire Mamboula, announced the suspension on television after the Panthers finished bottom of their group and exited the tournament in Morocco.
The West Africans lost all three of their Group F matches, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon, followed by a 3-2 loss to Mozambique and another 3-2 defeat against Ivory Coast.
Mamboula said: “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.”
Neither Aubameyang nor veteran defender Ecuele Manga featured in Wednesday’s match, with Aubameyang having returned to his French club Olympique de Marseille for treatment on a thigh injury.
Responding to the suspension, the 36-year-old Marseille forward posted on X: “I think the team’s problems are far deeper than the little person who I am.”– Online
Bongani Moyo