Aubameyang Leaves Gabon Squad, Returns to Marseille Amidst Injury and Club Dispute

Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has left his national team camp ahead of their anticipated match against Ivory Coast, returning to his club Olympique Marseille. This move comes amidst escalating tension between the Gabonese Football Federation and the French club during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers held in Morocco.

Gabon's campaign in the tournament saw a clear setback, as they lost their first two matches in Group F: 1-0 against Cameroon and then 3-2 against Mozambique. This confirmed their early exit and their finish in fourth place in the group stage.

Following their elimination, Aubameyang's departure from the "Panthers" camp and return to Marseille was decided. This was in response to an official request from the club for him to rejoin training and to monitor his health after an injury he sustained before the start of the continental finals.

The first-round match between Gabon and Cameroon had ignited a dispute between Olympique Marseille and the Gabonese Federation. The French club considered playing their player in that game a breach of a prior agreement that stipulated he should only be utilized from the second round onwards.

Just one day before their final group stage match against Ivory Coast, the Gabon national team decided to release their veteran striker, given that the match would have no bearing on their qualification status.

Sources close to the national team camp confirmed that Aubameyang left Morocco to prepare for his club's upcoming match against Nantes, scheduled for the end of the week in the French Ligue 1.

In the same context, the Gabonese Football Federation revealed details of the player's health status, stating: "As part of the agreed medical protocol between the medical staff of Marseille and Gabon regarding Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, daily medical examinations are being conducted after he felt pain in his left thigh the day after the Gabon vs Mozambique match."

The statement added: "Given the team's modest performance, which led to Gabon's early exit from this tournament, the medical staff, in consultation with his club, agreed to protect the player's physical well-being by excusing him from the final, non-decisive match."

It is worth noting that Aubameyang, aged 36, had returned to Olympique Marseille after a short one-season stint with Saudi club Al-Qadsiah.