NOS Football•
Gabon’s inglorious elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations has not gone down well in the highest circles of the country, to say the least. The government reported the suspension of the national team, the dismissal of the national coach and the banning of star player Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the squad.
The message was delivered on national television, Gabon Télévision, by the Minister of Sports, Simplice-Desire Mamboula. Gabon lost the last match in group F against Ivory Coast (2-3) on Wednesday and previously lost to Mozambique (2-3) and Cameroon (0-1).
“Given the Panthers’ embarrassing performance at the Africa Cup of Nations, the government has decided to disband the coaching staff, suspend the national team until further notice and exclude players Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang,” Mamboula said. “Furthermore, the government calls on the union to take its responsibility.”
Aubameyang: ‘Problems lie deeper’
Ahead of Wednesday’s final group match, the team had already faced criticism from Brice Oligui Nguema, the country’s president, who spoke of a “lack of method” and a “worrying decline in patriotic sentiment”.
The team of national coach Thierry Mouyouma was already eliminated in Morocco after two games and star Aubameyang (36) decided to return to his club Olympique Marseille due to an injury. Another experienced player, Bruno Ecuele Manga (37), also did not participate in the last match.
The government apparently did not appreciate this for the two veterans. With a B team, Gabon took a 2-0 lead in the last match, but Ivory Coast still took the 3-2 win in the final phase.
Aubameyang is Gabon’s all-time top scorer with 40 goals. He was named African Footballer of the Year in 2017. “I think the team’s problems are much deeper than the individual I am,” Aubameyang responded to X.
FIFA prohibits government interference in association policy
The question remains to what extent the measures will last. The video clip featuring Mamboula’s statement was later removed from the broadcaster’s social media channels and no similar statement was published on the government’s website.
The world football association FIFA prohibits government interference in the football association’s policy. If the measures do indeed hold, the country’s football association must take into account a suspension from FIFA.
