Name: Gabon suspends national football team after Africa Cup exit
Uploaded: 2026-01-02T09:37:42.030Z
Duration: 1 min 3 s
Description: Gabon’s government has suspended its national football team, banned star striker Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, and dismissed coach Thierry Mouyouma following a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

Gabon’s government has suspended its national football team, banned star striker Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, and dismissed coach Thierry Mouyouma following a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

Libreville

Gabon’s national football team has been suspended by the government after a series of defeats led to their elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations. The team lost 3-2 to Ivory Coast on December 31, despite initially leading by two goals, and finished at the bottom of their group after prior losses to Cameroon and Mozambique.

In response to the poor performance, Sports Minister Desire Mambula announced the suspension of the entire squad, a ban on star striker Pierre Emerique Aubameyang, and the dismissal of coach Thierry Mouyama. The intervention highlights significant issues within Gabonese football beyond just on-field results.

Gabon suspends national football team after Africa Cup exit

In Marrakesh, what began as preparation for glory has ended in complete collapse. Gabon's national team, once hopeful of continental success, now faces unprecedented government intervention after crashing out of the Africa Cup of Nations in the most devastating fashion possible. The final blow came on December 31st against Ivory Coast, a crushing 3-2 defeat that sealed their fate at the bottom of their group. But this wasn't just any loss. They had led by two goals before watching victory slip through their fingers. Already eliminated and demoralized from defeats to Cameroon and Mozambique, the team's spirit was broken. Star striker Pierre Emerique Aubameyang had already abandoned the squad, returning to Marseilles with injury concerns. Now sports minister, simply to desire Mambula, has delivered the ultimate punishment, suspending the entire national team, banning Aubameyang, and sacking coach Thierry Mouyama. When governments intervene this drastically, you know the damage runs deeper than just football.

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