The football team of Gabon was already eliminated in the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations without a single point won, and this caused stormy reactions in the country.
The crisis culminated in the government’s decision to dissolve the coaching staff and suspend the national team.
The Gabonese government made the announcement in a statement, adding that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had been suspended, as had captain Bruno Eccuele Manga.
Gabon recorded three defeats at the Africa Cup of Nations, the most painful of which was against Ivory Coast, although they led 2:0 after 21 minutes in that match, only to lose with a goal in stoppage time.
The situation was the topic of the cabinet meeting even before the last game.
The president of Gabon, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, publicly criticized the situation in the national team on that occasion.
“Part of our national identity has been weakened. Our representation shows two key problems that reflect deep structural flaws, the lack of method and the dispersion of resources,” the Gabonese president said.
The government statement stated that a decision was made to dismiss the technical staff, suspend the national team until further notice, and exclude the two most experienced players.
Gabon previously failed to even qualify for the 2026 World Cup, after being eliminated in the African play-offs.
Since no major competitions await them in 2026, the country is increasingly being talked about completely reconstructing the national team and redefining the football strategy.
(Vijesti.ba)
