Sports
Gabon Government Suspends National Team After AFCON Exit
Gabon’s government has suspended the national team, sacked the coaching staff and dropped Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang following a winless Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Morocco.
Acting sports minister Simplice-Desire Mamboula announced the measures after Gabon finished bottom of their group, saying the decisions were taken in response to a “disgraceful performance” at the tournament.
Veteran defender Bruno Ecuele Manga was also excluded.
Gabon lost all three group matches, including a 3-2 defeat by Ivory Coast despite leading 2-0, and had already been eliminated after losses to Cameroon and Mozambique.
Aubameyang did not feature in the final game due to a thigh injury and later responded on social media: “I think the team’s problems are much deeper than the individual I am.”
The move marks a rare instance of government intervention in African football in recent years, with FIFA discouraging such actions.
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