Gabonese Government Suspends National Team Activity, Excludes Aubameyang and Manga After AFCON 2025 Failure

The Gabonese government has announced decisive measures following the national team's disappointing performance at the Africa Cup of Nations "Morocco 2025" finals. The action comes after the team's elimination from the group stage and a display widely described as failing to meet the expectations of fans and authorities alike.

An official statement from the Ministry of Youth and Sports explained that these decisions were prompted by the national team's "disgraceful" performance and the numerous consequences that conflict with the Republic's core values of ethics and exemplary conduct. The government affirmed its commitment to safeguarding the image of Gabonese football and protecting public funds.

The measures include the immediate dissolution of the national team's technical staff, the indefinite suspension of all national team activities, and the exclusion of Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the squad.

The government also urged the Gabonese Football Federation to assume full responsibility and to learn the necessary lessons from this failure. The aim is to rebuild the national team on new foundations that will restore its balance and credibility on the continental stage.

Official authorities are expected to disclose further details in the coming period concerning the national team's future and the anticipated steps to reform Gabon's football system.

This move follows what was described as a catastrophic performance by the "Panthers" in the group stage, where the team suffered three consecutive defeats against Cameroon, Mozambique, and Ivory Coast. They exited the competition without earning a single point, finishing last in their group, in what stands as one of their worst participations in Africa Cup of Nations history.