Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been banned from representing Gabon after the country’s government suspended the national team and dismissed head coach Thierry Mouyouma following a disastrous Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
The decision was announced by Gabon’s sports minister Simplice-Désiré Mamboula after the team bombed out of the tournament in Morocco bottom of their group, having lost to Cameroon, Mozambique and Ivory Coast.
Gabon’s final game ended in a 3-2 defeat to Ivory Coast on 31 December, despite taking a two-goal lead.
Mamboula described the performances as unacceptable and confirmed sweeping action, including Aubameyang’s exclusion.
“Given the Panthers’ disgraceful performance at the Africa Cup of Nations, the government has decided to dissolve the coaching staff, suspend the national team until further notice, and exclude players Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang,” he said.
Aubameyang did even not feature in the final group match after returning to Marseille for treatment on a thigh injury with Gabon already eliminated by that point.
The 36-year-old responded publicly to the government’s decision, rejecting the implication that he was responsible for the failure.
“I think the team’s problems are much deeper than the individual I am,” he said.
Aubameyang’s relationship with the Gabon national team has long been complex.
Over the course of his international career, he has been both talisman and captain, while also attracting criticism at various points over his availability, discipline and fitness.
Those tensions tended to become more pronounced during major tournaments.
At the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, Aubameyang tested positive for COVID-19 on arrival and was later sent back to Europe after heart lesions were detected, meaning he did not play.
That episode prompted a debate in Gabon about his commitment and medical fitness.
In May 2022, Aubameyang announced his retirement from international football after 72 caps and 30 goals, saying it was time to end his 13-year international career.
He later returned to the squad and captained Gabon again ahead of AFCON 2025.
Whether Aubameyang will ever represent Gabon again remains unclear.