The Government of Gabon has taken drastic action following the men’s national football team’s poor performance at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 in Morocco, where the Panthers finished bottom of Group F without earning a single point.
The Panthers, suffered a humiliating group-stage exit at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Morocco, finishing bottom of Group F with zero points from three matches.
They lost 1-0 to Cameroon in their opener on December 24, 2025, courtesy of an early goal by Karl Etta Eyong. This was followed by a 3-2 defeat to Mozambique on December 28, despite a goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang—marking Mozambique’s first-ever AFCON win after 39 years of waiting.
Gabon were already eliminated heading into their final fixture on December 31 against defending champions Ivory Coast, where they led 2-0 early on but collapsed dramatically, conceding three goals (including late strikes from Evann Guessand and Bazoumana Touré in stoppage time) to lose 3-2 again.
In direct response, on January 1, 2026, acting Sports Minister Simplice-Désiré Mamboula announced sweeping measures in a statement broadcast on national television.
Describing the team’s performances as “disgraceful” and contrary to the ethical and exemplary values of the Fifth Republic, the government decided to dissolve the entire technical staff (including head coach Thierry Mouyouma, a former Gabon international with over 30 caps), suspend all national team activities indefinitely, and permanently exclude captain Bruno Ecuele Manga (Gabon’s most-capped player with 105 appearances) and star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (the nation’s all-time leading scorer with 41 goals) from future selection.
The statement also urged the Gabonese Football Federation (FEGAFOOT) to take full responsibility for restructuring.Notably, neither Aubameyang (who had returned to Olympique de Marseille for treatment on a thigh injury) nor Ecuele Manga (dropped for the Ivory Coast match after starting the first two) featured in the final game.
Aubameyang, aged 36, had captained the side in earlier matches despite fitness concerns, while the 37-year-old Ecuele Manga had briefly come out of international retirement for the tournament.
This level of direct government intervention is highly unusual in modern African football due to FIFA’s strict prohibitions against state interference in national federations, which have previously led to suspensions (e.g., Mali in 2017).
As of early January 2026, neither FIFA nor the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has issued a public response, but the move risks potential sanctions and has sparked widespread debate about governance, accountability, and systemic issues in Gabonese football.
Aubameyang reportedly hinted on social media at deeper problems within the setup, suggesting the failures extend beyond individual performances. The suspension leaves Gabon’s future international participation uncertain, with no timeline provided for resumption or rebuilding efforts.
Paul Ulrich Kessany Zategwa, a 40-year-old former captain of the Gabonese national football team (the Panthers) with around 50 international caps as a defensive midfielder, has been appointed as the country’s new Minister of Sports to drive new air into Gabon’s football ecosystem and Sports in general.
With the government drawing a firm line on accountability after the “disgraceful” performances, authorities are now pressing the Gabonese Football Federation (FEGAFOOT) to take full responsibility, restore discipline, and lead the restructuring process under the new minister’s oversight.
Kessany, who previously served as an advisor on sports in the presidential cabinet since 2023, brings insider experience to address the systemic issues plaguing Gabonese football.