"Gabon's acting Sports Minister Simplice-Desire Mamboula on Wednesday announced the suspension of the national team on television after they finished last in their group and were eliminated from the tournament in Morocco. 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, Mamboula said after a 3-2 loss to the Ivory Coast in Marrakesh."
"Neither Aubameyang nor veteran defender Ecuele Manga played on Wednesday, with Aubameyang having returned to his French club Olympique de Marseille for treatment on a thigh injury. The former African Footballer of the Year responded on social media, saying on X: I think the team's problems are much deeper than the individual I am. Aubameyang, at 36, had likely played his last game for Gabon in their defeat by Mozambique, as was also likely the case with the 37-year-old former Cardiff City defender Ecuele Manga."
"Gabon, coached by former defender Thierry Mouyouma, had already been eliminated after losing their opening pair of Group F fixtures to Cameroon and Mozambique, but in their final outing were 2-0 up over the defending champions before conceding three goals and going down to a second-string Ivorian lineup. Disbanding the national team used to be a common reaction in Africa to disappointing results, but since world football's governing body FIFA has taken a hard stance against government interference in the running of football associations, it has been a rare occurrence."
Gabon finished last in Group F at the Africa Cup of Nations and were eliminated after three defeats. The government suspended the national team, dissolved the coaching staff and removed Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the squad following a 3-2 loss to Ivory Coast in Marrakesh. Gabon had lost earlier group games to Cameroon and Mozambique but led 2-0 before conceding three goals to a second-string Ivorian lineup. Aubameyang missed the match while returning to Olympique de Marseille for thigh treatment and said on X that the team's problems run deeper than any individual. FIFA's stance against government interference has made such disbandment rare.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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