₦airaland Forum

Gabon’s government has taken drastic action following the Panthers‘ disastrous group stage exit at AFCON 2025, announcing the suspension of the national team until further notice, dissolution of the coaching staff, and permanent exclusion of star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and captain Bruno Ecuele Manga.

The statement, read on national television by acting Sports Minister Simplice-Désiré Mamboula on January 1, 2026, labeled the performance “disgraceful” after three defeats: 1-0 vs Cameroon, 3-2 vs Mozambique, and 3-2 vs Ivory Coast (despite leading 2-0).

Key decisions:

Dissolve entire technical staff (coach Thierry Mouyouma out)
Suspend all national team activities indefinitely
Permanently ban Aubameyang (36, Gabon’s all-time top scorer with 41 goals) and Ecuele Manga (37, most-capped with 105 appearances)
Aubameyang, injured, missed the final game and returned to Marseille early. Ecuele Manga was dropped for the Ivory Coast match.

Such government intervention – once common in African football – is rare now due to FIFA’s strict rules against political interference, potentially risking sanctions on the federation.

Gabon finished bottom of Group F with zero points, marking one of their worst AFCON showings. The move signals a full reset amid calls for reform from President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.

Source: https://sportblits.com/sports-news/official-gabon-government-suspends-national-team-after-afcon-2025-group-stage-elimination/

Bouanga and Aubameyang should be fllloggged

This is what Nigeria government should do to super Eagles.

Worst AFCON outing by the Gabonese

They went too hard. That is a drastic decision

COMRADES, this is funny oo, but the action good. No food for lazy man
Wsit a minute, I hope FIFA will not meddle because I remember that case between Nigerian government/NASS and FIFA about the suspension or sacking of one NFA chairman during OBJ'S tenure because of the controversy FIFA threatened to ban Nigeria from participating in any football league

Were they expecting them to go far ?

Be like say these African team nor get respect again lol

If no be greed. 36 and 37 years d no get business with national team.

Nigeria would never do such, since players pay heavily to join Super Eagles

Na now una just wake up from sleep

They met better team na. No be their fault. Imagine Chelsea stars playing Ikorodu fc

They're joking, they will soon hear from FIFA and CAF. They should ask GEJ what happened when he did similar thing

Nonsense
When African government loot or perform abysmally they don't suspend themselves

They will soon hear from fifa anyway

elpochas:
How can a Gabon side lose to Mozambique,That result still baffles me.

Na only that Mozambique dem fit win even at that with three points they can't make it to round of 16 ,

How can a Gabon side lose to Mozambique,That result still baffles me.

Blacks too.like violence.


It's just a game chill bro!

If you act like this wetin Ghana suppose do weh no qualify. Or we with all our stars weh no reach world cup

Mirasteel:
This is what Nigeria government should do to super Eagles.

Immediately after the qualifiers.
But now they seems to be doing well AFCON.

As soon as the tournament ends, we need to press a hard factory reset with the Super Eagles.

In what way can this help the team in the future?

Acting before thinking

Typical of African governments. I wonder how this decision will improve the quality of governance in Libreville. Tournaments are designed to measure the level of sporting growths and developments. Gabonese poor showing is an indictment on sports administration entirely. Its just the same in Nigeria. I remember Afcon 2002 or so when the Ivorian Govt ordered all the players to the barracks after their poor showing. These players are even more patriotic than the government of the day

They are too emotional with the decision

Emotion don't solve issues

They should be logical

If we're going by performances then we ought not to have come to Afcon as the government should have suspended us after failing to qualify for the WC

Interesting, I don't know why this is so funny to me.

They should get ready for FIFA

fasho01:
If we're going by performances then we ought not to have come to Afcon as the government ought to have suspended us after failing to qualify for the WC

Are you a Gabonese or a Gabon Viper?

What do they expect Auba should be goalkeeper, defender and striker?

iWasNotHere:
Nigeria would never do such, since players pay heavily to join Super Eagles

E be like say na yesterday dem born you

emmabest2000:
Na only that Mozambique dem fit win even at that with three points they can't make it to round of 16 ,

They would have qualifed as best 3rd place side.

Ah ah.
Not a right way to treat auba

Empresa:
They're joking, they will soon hear from FIFA and CAF. They should ask GEJ what happened when he did similar thing

what happened
Please tell us

Who among those born in the late 70s here could remember one CAF tournament in the 80s in which a Gabon keeper was holding a ball and an opponent went to his back, hit the ball in his hand with his head and scored? He was holding the ball for too long meanwhile, the opponent was close to him but he didn't notice him

Make them jail all the players sef until afcon. Imagine rubbish.