Humiliated, Aubameyang was immediately expelled from the African national team.

Eliminated in the group stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Gabon's national team is confronted with an unprecedented crackdown as the government disbands the coaching staff, suspends the team, and excludes the most iconic figure in its history - Aubameyang.

The defeat at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has plunged Gabonese football into a severe crisis. The national team exited early after a series of losses, including a shocking 2-3 comeback defeat to Ivory Coast. Leading 2-0 within 21 minutes but unable to maintain the advantage, Gabon finished the tournament with zero points, leaving the continental stage amid widespread domestic outrage.

This failure is even more impactful as it extends the string of disappointing results for Gabonese football in recent years. Prior to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the team also missed out on the 2026 World Cup after being eliminated in the regional playoffs. Two consecutive setbacks on major stages have nearly destroyed the faith in the national team.

Immediately following the loss to Ivory Coast, Gabon's Sports Minister Simplice-Desire Mamboula appeared on national television with a stern tone.

“Due to the shameful performance of Gabon's national team at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the government has decided to dissolve the coaching staff, suspend the national team’s activities until further notice, and ban Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from representing the team further.” This statement instantly shocked not only the nation but also reverberated across African football.

The incident quickly escalated to a national level when President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema personally commented.

In a cabinet meeting, he expressed deep disappointment and stated that “a part of our national identity has been weakened”, emphasizing that the consecutive failures reflected “a lack of proper methodology, fragmented management, and a worrying decline in dedication within Gabonese sports.”This is a rare instance of a head of state directly intervening in the technical affairs of the national team.

According to multiple sources, the decision to remove Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was not only symbolic but also based on specific allegations. The forward, who previously played for Arsenal, Barcelona, and Chelsea, was reportedly seen leaving the airport to return home before the match against Ivory Coast had ended.

Alongside captain Bruno Ecuele Manga, the two most experienced players were judged to lack responsibility and commitment during the team's toughest moments.

The departure of these key figures tied to the team’s history signals a harsh cleansing phase for Gabonese football. The cost of failure goes beyond elimination from a tournament; it represents a breakdown of trust, the collapse of a generation, and a significant question mark over the national team’s future in the coming years.