Government Takes Drastic Action Following “Dishonourable Performance” and Group-Stage Elimination
Gabon’s national football team has been suspended and its head coach fired by the country’s government following a disastrous Africa Cup of Nations campaign that ended in early elimination.
In a dramatic televised announcement on Wednesday, Sports Minister Simplice-Desire Mamboula confirmed the dismissal of coach Thierry Mouyouma and the indefinite suspension of the national side. Star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and captain Bruno Ecuele Manga have also been banned from the squad.
The measures were taken in response to what the government labeled a “dishonourable performance” at the tournament in Morocco. Gabon lost all three of their group matches, including a crushing 3-2 defeat to defending champions Ivory Coast after leading 2-0.
“Considering the multifaceted effects, which are the antithesis of the ethical and exemplary values advocated by the Fifth Republic, the government has decided to dissolve the technical staff, suspend the national team until further notice, and exclude players Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang,” Mamboula said.
Aubameyang, who missed the final match with a thigh injury, responded on social media platform X, writing: “I think the team’s problems are far deeper than the little person who I am.”
The decision marks a return to a controversial practice in African football, where governments have historically disbanded national teams after poor results. Such interventions have become rarer in recent years due to FIFA rules prohibiting political interference in football federations.
Gabon, who failed to qualify for the 2023 AFCON, have never progressed beyond the quarter-finals of the tournament. Their early exit stands in stark contrast to defending champions Ivory Coast, who advanced to the last 16 where they will face Burkina Faso on Tuesday.
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