Gabon's national football team, known as the Panthers, has been indefinitely suspended by the government following a humiliating group-stage exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. The sanctions include the dissolution of the entire coaching staff, the exclusion of veteran players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga from future selection, and a temporary halt to all national team activities.
The decision was announced by acting Sports Minister Simplice-Désiré Mamboula on national television late on December 31, 2025, immediately after Gabon's 3-2 defeat to defending champions Ivory Coast in Marrakesh. In a strongly worded statement, Mamboula described the team's performance as "disgraceful," stating that the government had decided to dissolve the technical staff, suspend the national team until further notice, and exclude players Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The announcement video was briefly removed from official platforms before being republished on January 1, 2026, amid widespread media coverage and public reaction.
Gabon's campaign in Group F was marked by three consecutive defeats, finishing bottom with zero points. They lost 1-0 to Cameroon in their opener, followed by a shocking 3-2 defeat to Mozambique—ranked significantly lower—which ended Mozambique's long winless streak at AFCON finals. In their final match on December 31, Gabon took a surprising 2-0 lead against Ivory Coast through goals from Guélor Kanga and Denis Bouanga, but collapsed dramatically, conceding three times in the second half. Jean-Philippe Krasso pulled one back before halftime, Evann Guessand equalized in the 84th minute, and teenager Bazoumana Touré scored the winner in stoppage time.
Ivory Coast topped the group with seven points, edging Cameroon (also seven points) on goals scored, while Mozambique advanced as one of the best third-placed teams.
Neither Aubameyang nor Ecuele Manga featured in the final game against Ivory Coast. Aubameyang, Gabon's all-time leading scorer with 41 goals and a former captain, had returned to his club Olympique de Marseille earlier for treatment on a thigh injury sustained during the tournament. The 36-year-old, who played in the losses to Cameroon and Mozambique, is widely believed to have made his last international appearance. Similarly, 37-year-old defender Ecuele Manga, the most-capped player in Gabon's history with 105 appearances and former Cardiff City stalwart, was dropped for the Ivory Coast match after starting the first two games.
Head coach Thierry Mouyouma, only the second local manager to lead Gabon to an AFCON finals, and his entire technical staff were dismissed as part of the overhaul.
President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema had earlier expressed profound disappointment in the team's performance, stating in an official release that this had weakened part of the national identity. He criticized a "lack of method and the dispersion of resources" in national sports management and pledged "strong and structural decisions" to restore discipline, responsibility, and ambition.
Aubameyang responded briefly on social media, posting: "I think the team’s problems are much deeper than the individual I am."
The government's direct intervention has raised concerns about potential repercussions from FIFA, the world governing body, which strictly prohibits political or governmental interference in the affairs of national football associations. Such actions were once common in African football following poor results but have become rare due to FIFA's enforcement of independence rules. Past cases, like Mali's 2017 suspension after government dissolution of its federation executive, serve as precedents.
As of January 2, 2026, neither FIFA nor the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has issued an official response, but observers anticipate scrutiny given the explicit government override of the Gabonese Football Federation (FEGAFOOT), which the statement urged to "assume all its responsibilities."
Gabon's poor showing follows their failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, adding to the pressure on the nation's football structures. The sanctions signal a major reset, potentially ending the international careers of iconic figures like Aubameyang and Ecuele Manga, while highlighting ongoing challenges in Gabonese football governance and performance.
This drastic measure underscores the high expectations placed on national teams in Africa, where football often transcends sport to embody national pride and identity. As the AFCON knockout stages begin, Gabon's early exit and subsequent turmoil serve as a stark reminder of the intense scrutiny faced by underperforming sides.
