The Government of Gabon has taken the extraordinary step of suspending its national football team, the Panthères, and dissolving its technical staff. This decisive action comes directly after the team’s early exit from the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 in Morocco, a performance described by authorities as “dishonoring.”
An official communiqué released from the capital, Libreville, cited the team’s display as being “at odds with the ethical and exemplary values” promoted by the nation. The government’s statement outlined three immediate consequences.
Gabon’s acting sports minister announced on television the suspension of the national team after they finished last in their group and were eliminated from the tournament in Morocco.
1. Dissolution of Technical Staff: The entire coaching and support team has been dismissed.
2. Suspension of National Team: All activities of the senior men’s national team are halted indefinitely, pending further notice.
3. Exclusion of Key Players: Veteran defenders Bruno Ecuele Manga and star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have been formally removed from the squad.
A Challenging Tournament
Gabon’s campaign in Group F of AFCON 2025 was difficult from the start. The Panthères finished at the bottom of their group without a victory. Their group stage results were:
Gabon 1 – 2 Cameroon
Gabon 2 – 3 Mozambique
Gabon 2 – 3 Ivory Coast
The third and final loss to Ivory Coast confirmed their elimination from the tournament, failing to advance to the knockout stages.
Aubameyang, at 36, had likely played his last game for Gabon in their defeat by Mozambique, as was also likely the case with the 37-year-old former Cardiff City defender Ecuele Manga.
The former African Footballer of the Year responded on social media, saying on X: “I think the team’s problems are much deeper than the individual I am.”
Disbanding the national team used to be a common reaction in Africa to disappointing results, but since world football’s governing body FIFA has taken a hard stance against government interference in the running of football associations, it has been a rare occurrence.
In November, Gabon failed to qualify for this summer’s World Cup after they lost to Nigeria in a one-legged play-off semi-final. Gabon won eight of their 10 World Cup qualifiers but finished a point behind group leaders Ivory Coast.