The Gabonese government has announced the suspension of the national team, dismissed head coach Thierry Mouyouma, and removed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the squad following a disastrous Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

The decision was confirmed by Gabon’s Minister of Sports in a televised address after the Panthers finished bottom of their group and were eliminated from the tournament in Morocco following three defeats.

“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,” acting sports minister Simplice-Desire Mamboula said after Wednesday’s 3–2 loss to Ivory Coast in Marrakech.

Gabon, who had already been eliminated after defeats to Cameroon and Mozambique in their opening Group F matches, suffered further disappointment in their final fixture. Despite taking a 2–0 lead against the defending champions, they conceded three goals to a second-string Ivorian side.

Neither Aubameyang nor veteran defender Ecuele Manga featured in the final match. Aubameyang had returned to his club, Olympique de Marseille, to receive treatment for a thigh injury.

The former African Footballer of the Year later responded on social media platform X, writing: “I think the team’s problems are much deeper than the individual I am.”

At 36, Aubameyang may have already played his final match for Gabon in the loss to Mozambique, with the same likely true for the 37-year-old Ecuele Manga, formerly of Cardiff City.

While dissolving a national team was once a common response to poor results in African football, such measures have become increasingly rare. FIFA has taken a firm stance against government interference in football associations, making interventions of this nature uncommon in the modern era.