BREAKING: Gabon Government Suspends National Team, Bans Players Over AFCON Failure

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

Gabon’s national football team has been suspended by the government until further notice following a disastrous Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign that ended at the group stage.

In the wake of the early elimination, high-profile Marseille striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and team captain Bruno Ecuele Manga have both been banned from national team selection, while the entire coaching staff has been dissolved as part of a sweeping overhaul.

Gabon endured a torrid AFCON journey, finishing bottom of Group F after losing all three of their matches. The Panthers struggled at both ends of the pitch, failing to build on moments of promise and exiting the tournament without a single point, a result that sparked widespread criticism back home.

The outcome was particularly disappointing given Gabon’s AFCON history. The country has previously enjoyed memorable tournament runs, including reaching the quarter-finals as co-hosts in 2012 and qualifying regularly over the past decade, often led by the goals and experience of Aubameyang. Expectations were therefore higher heading into this edition of the competition.

The government’s decision signals a firm stance on accountability, with officials reportedly determined to reset the national team structure before competitive football resumes. No timeline has yet been announced for the lifting of the suspension or the appointment of a new technical crew.

For now, Gabonese football faces an uncertain period as authorities seek to rebuild after one of the most difficult AFCON campaigns in the nation’s recent history.