In a dramatic and severe response to a disappointing tournament, the government of Gabon has taken the extraordinary step of suspending its entire national football team. The decision follows the team's early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), where they finished bottom of their group.
Government Announces Drastic Measures
Acting sports minister Simplice-Désiré Mamboula made the announcement on national television after Gabon's final match, a 3-2 defeat to Côte d'Ivoire in Marrakech on Wednesday. He cited the "disgraceful performance" of the Panthers as the reason for the sweeping changes.
The government has decided to dissolve the existing coaching staff, led by head coach Thierry Mouyouma, and suspend all national team activities indefinitely. Furthermore, two veteran players, striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and defender Bruno Ecuele Manga, have been formally excluded from the squad.
A Tournament of Collapse and Controversy
Gabon's campaign in Morocco was a short and unsuccessful one. They were eliminated after losing their first two Group F matches against Cameroon and Mozambique. Their final game, against a second-string Ivorian side, encapsulated their troubles. Despite taking a 2-0 lead, they conceded three goals to lose 3-2.
Neither Aubameyang, 36, nor Ecuele Manga, 37, featured in that final match. The former African Footballer of the Year had returned to his club, Marseille, for treatment on a thigh injury. Reacting to his exclusion on social media platform X, Aubameyang stated: "I think the team's problems are much deeper than the individual I am."
The defeat to Mozambique likely marked the final international appearance for both ageing stars, bringing their Gabon careers to an abrupt and unceremonious end.
A Rare Move in Modern Football
The decision to disband a national team was once a more common reaction to failure in African football. However, it has become increasingly rare due to FIFA's strict rules against government interference in football associations. Such interventions can lead to suspensions from international football.
By taking control and imposing these sanctions directly, the Gabonese government has entered a contentious area of sports governance. The move highlights the intense pressure and national expectation placed on the team, and the profound disappointment caused by their early Afcon exit.
The future of Gabonese football now hangs in the balance, awaiting the next steps from both the government and the country's football federation in the wake of this unprecedented suspension.
