By Samuel Adeola
The Gabonese government has suspended the country’s national football team indefinitely following a poor showing at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Gabon finished bottom of Group F after losing all three matches, exiting the tournament without a point and triggering outrage at home.
In a statement broadcast on state television, the government announced the dissolution of the entire coaching crew and imposed a ban on senior players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga from future national team selection.
Sports authorities described the team’s performance as unacceptable and unworthy of the nation’s football standards, leading to what has been termed one of the harshest sanctions in the team’s history.
The decision has plunged Gabonese football into uncertainty, with no timeline given for the team’s return to international competition, while the move is also expected to attract FIFA scrutiny over government interference.
