The Gabonese government excludes Aubameyang and dissolves Panthers squad after ‘disgraceful’ Afcon exit.

In a strong reaction, the Gabonese government have announced the temporary dissolution of the Panthers squad, the dismissal of the coaching staff, and the removal of veteran forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the squad.

This drastic action comes in the wake of the team's group-stage exit at the Afcon tournament in Morocco, where they lost all three matches.

“Given the Panthers’ shameful performance at the Africa Cup of Nations, the government has decided to dissolve the coaching staff, freeze the national team for now, and drop players the two veteran players,” announced acting sports minister Simplice-Désiré Mamboula.

The Tournament of Disappointment

Coached by ex-player Thierry Mouyouma, Gabon were already out after falling in their opening pair of Group F games to Mozambique and Cameroon.

In their last match, the Panthers took a two-goal lead over defending champions Côte d’Ivoire before conceding three goals to a rotated Ivorian lineup, eventually losing 3-2 defeat in Marrakech.

Veteran Players Not Involved

Both Aubameyang and the veteran defender Bruno Ecuele Manga took part in the final match.

The ex-continental player of the year Aubameyang had rejoined his club, Marseille, for treatment on a thigh injury.

Reacting to the announcement on his account, Aubameyang implied the issues ran beyond any single player: “I think the team’s problems are far more profound than the person I am.”

At 36 and thirty-seven years old respectively, the defeat by Mozambique likely marked the last match for both Aubameyang and Ecuele Manga.

A Rare Measure in Today's Game

Disbanding a national team was formerly a common reaction in Africa to tournament failures.

However, given that FIFA, football’s world authority, has adopted a firm position against state intervention in the sport's administration, such decisions have become far less common in today's football landscape.