Gabon dismisses Aubameyang and disbands Panthers squad after poor Afcon performance.

In an unprecedented step, Gabon's authorities have revealed the temporary dissolution of the men's national football team, the dismissal of the team's coaches, and the expulsion of veteran forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from national duty.

This drastic action comes after the team's early elimination at the continental championship in Morocco, where they suffered three defeats.

“Considering the Panthers’ unacceptable showing at the Africa Cup of Nations, the government has decided to terminate the coaching staff, disband the national team until further notice, and remove players Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang,” said acting sports minister Simplice-Désiré Mamboula.

Group Stage of Disappointment

Coached by former defender Thierry Mouyouma, Gabon had already been eliminated after suffering defeats in their initial matches of Group F contests to Cameroon and Mozambique.

In their concluding fixture, the Panthers were 2-0 up over title holders Côte d’Ivoire before letting in three scores 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 featured in the final match.

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

Answering to the government's decision on his account, Aubameyang stated the issues ran beyond any one person: “I think the team’s problems are far more profound than the individual I am.”

At 36 and 37 years old respectively, the defeat by Mozambique may have been the final international game for both Aubameyang and Ecuele Manga.

A Rare Measure in Contemporary Soccer

Disbanding a national team was previously a typical measure in Africa to tournament failures.

However, given that FIFA, football’s international federation, has taken a hard stance against government interference in soccer federations, such decisions have become a rare occurrence in recent years.