AFCON 2025: Gabon Government Dissolves National Team After “Disgraceful” Exit
Libreville, Gabon – January 3, 2026
Aubameyang Banned Amidst National Crisis. In a move that has stunned the international football community and raised serious questions about government interference in sports, the Gabonese Republic has officially dissolved its senior national football team, the “Panthers.”
The decision, announced via a stern televised address by the Ministry of Sports on January 1st and taking full effect this weekend, comes in the wake of a disastrous Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) campaign in Morocco.
The government has not only suspended all national team activities but has also moved to permanently exclude legendary captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and veteran defender Bruno Ecuele Manga from future selection, labeling their performance as “antithetical to the values of the Republic.”
The Moroccan Collapse: From 2-0 to Elimination
The catalyst for this drastic state intervention was Gabon’s abysmal showing in Group F of the AFCON finals.
After suffering consecutive losses to Cameroon and Mozambique, the Panthers entered their final group match against the defending champions, Ivory Coast, with a mathematical chance of progress.
In a match that will be remembered for its tragic trajectory, Gabon raced to a shocking 2-0 lead within the first 25 minutes.
However, the team suffered a historic collapse, conceding three unanswered goals—including a stoppage-time winner by Bazoumana Touré—to finish bottom of their group with zero points.
The Gabonese government, led by the transitional authorities of the “Fifth Republic,” described the team’s exit as a “national disgrace.”
Acting Sports Minister Simplice-Désiré Mamboula stated that the dissolution of the technical staff, led by coach Thierry Mouyouma, was a necessary step to restore “ethics and exemplarity” to Gabonese sports.
The government has effectively hit the “reset button” on the nation’s most beloved sport, regardless of the potential sanctions from FIFA, which strictly prohibits political meddling in national football federations.
The Fall of a Legend: Aubameyang’s Ousting
The most controversial element of the decree is the targeted ban on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The 36-year-old Marseille striker, who is Gabon’s all-time leading goalscorer, did not even feature in the final match against Ivory Coast due to a thigh injury.
Despite his absence from the pitch during the final collapse, the government has made him a primary scapegoat for the team’s lack of discipline and cohesion.
Aubameyang responded to the news on social media, stating, “I think the team’s problems are much deeper than the individual I am.”
His supporters argue that the government is using the football team’s failure as a distraction from the country’s ongoing political transition and economic challenges.
With both Aubameyang and the 37-year-old Ecuele Manga now barred, the era of Gabon’s “Golden Generation” has ended not on the pitch, but in a government office in Libreville.
FIFA Sanctions and the Future of the Panthers
The global governing body, FIFA, is reportedly preparing a formal inquiry into the Gabonese government’s actions.
Traditionally, such wholesale dissolution of a national team leads to a global ban on all clubs and representative teams from that country. If a ban is enacted, Gabon would be excluded from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and continental competitions for years to come.
However, the Libreville authorities appear undeterred, calling on the Gabonese Football Federation (FEGAFOOT) to “assume its full responsibilities” in rebuilding a squad from the ground up.
As the sports world watches, the “Panthers” remain a team without players, a coach, or a future, serving as a stark reminder of how high-stakes sports can become a tool for political posturing in the modern era.
Headlines from Libreville:
• Total Dissolution: Government suspends all national team activities indefinitely.
• The Sacking: Head coach Thierry Mouyouma and his entire staff dismissed.
• Legend Ousted: Aubameyang and Ecuele Manga permanently banned from the squad.
• FIFA Alert: Global football body monitors Gabon for “political interference” violations.
