GABON are in disarray after their Africa Cup of Nations exit – thanks to the government sacking the coaching staff and suspending members of the squad before seemingly making a quick U-turn.
The Panthers had a woeful tournament, suffering defeats to Cameroon, Mozambique and the Ivory Coast.
Former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 36, missed the final group stage match, having been given permission to return to French giants Marseille.
Gabon had already been ruled out of progressing to the knockout stage before throwing a two-goal lead in their 3-2 loss to the Ivory Coast.
And the nation’s government hit out at the coaches and entire squad in a statement which has since been deleted.
It read: “The government has decided to dissolve the technical staff and suspend the national team until further notice, and to exclude players Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.”
Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Gabon’s president, also blasted those on the pitch after failing to pick up a single point at Afcon.
In a cabinet meeting ahead of the defeat to the Ivory Coast, who had Aston Villa striker Evann Guessand among the goalscorers, he said: “A part of our national identity is being weakened.”
Oligui also claimed the national team “highlights two major problems which, in reality, reflect persistent structural deficiencies: a lack of method and the dispersal of resources”.
Former defender Thierry Mouyouma had been in charge of Gabon since November 2023 before being left in uncertainty over his future.
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Aubameyang, who had his Arsenal contract torn up in the early stages of boss Mikel Arteta’s reign, has won 83 caps.
The striker headed to Afcon having already notched 18 goal involvements in 20 Marseille appearances this season.
He moved back to the Orange Velodrome for a second spell after leaving Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah during the summer.
Manga, who was also named among the excluded members of the squad by the government, previously had a five-year spell with Cardiff.
The centre-back, 37, is currently in France’s third tier with Paris 13 Atletico.
