In an unprecedented step, the Gabonese government have revealed the immediate suspension of the men's national football team, the dismissal of the team's coaches, and the exclusion of veteran forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the team.
This drastic action comes following the team's group-stage exit at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where they lost all three matches.
“In light of the Panthers’ disgraceful performance at the Africa Cup of Nations, the government has decided to terminate the coaching staff, disband the national team for now, and exclude players Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang,” said acting sports minister Simplice-Désiré Mamboula.
The Tournament of Frustration
Coached by ex-player Thierry Mouyouma, Gabon had already been eliminated after losing their first two of Group F fixtures to their group rivals.
In their concluding fixture, the Panthers were 2-0 up over defending champions Côte d’Ivoire before surrendering their advantage to a changed Ivorian lineup, eventually losing 3-2 defeat in Marrakech.
Veteran Players Absent
Both Aubameyang and the experienced centre-back Bruno Ecuele Manga played in the final match.
The ex-continental player of the year Aubameyang had gone back to his club, Marseille, for treatment on a thigh injury.
Answering to the announcement on a social platform, Aubameyang stated the issues ran deeper than any single player: “I think the team’s problems are much deeper than the player I am.”
At 36 and thirty-seven years old respectively, the loss to Mozambique may have been the final international appearance for both Aubameyang and Ecuele Manga.
A Drastic Action in Today's Game
Suspending a national team was once a frequent response in Africa to poor performances.
However, since FIFA, football’s global governing body, has taken a hard stance against political meddling in football associations, such decisions have become increasingly rare in the modern era.
