Quake after elimination
Sports minister fires coach – and suspends the entire team
01/01/2026 – 1:06 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Gabon traveled to Morocco with hopes of progressing to the Africa Cup of Nations. In the end, the country was eliminated without a point. The sports minister reacts.
A 0-1 against Cameroon, a 2-3 against Mozambique and a 2-3 against Ivory Coast: That is Gabon’s record at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations. The “Panthers” were eliminated last in Group F with zero points. The performance is a bitter disappointment for fans, team and coach – and also for the Sports Minister Dr. Simplice-Desiré Mamboula.
Mamboula reacted sharply to the elimination, firing the entire coaching team and suspending the entire national team the night after the 2-3 defeat against Ivory Coast on New Year’s Eve. Captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyng and vice-captain Bruno Ecuele Manga had to resign from their positions. This is “crucial and necessary,” said the sports ministry’s statement. Tactics, fitness and strategy were also denounced.
Captain Aubameyang has been particularly heavily criticized recently. The former BVB striker left the African Cup after just two games and returned early to his club Olympique Marseille.
Coach Thierry Mouyouma cited thigh problems as the reason for this. Despite the injury, the captain’s signal not to support the team on site at the last game was anything but well received.
It was not the first time that Aubameyang was criticized in Gabon. The striker had already resigned in 2022 after being eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations, only to return a year later. However, it is likely that in the current case there will be no further international matches added to the 83 that the 36-year-old has played for Gabon so far.