The announcement was made by Sports Minister Simplice-Desire Mamboula after Gabon’s 3-2 defeat to Ivory Coast on 31 December. The loss sealed the Panthers’ place at the bottom of their group in Morocco, following earlier defeats to Cameroon and Mozambique—results Mamboula described as “disgraceful.”
“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.
The decision came amid criticism over Gabon’s collapse after taking a two-goal lead in Marrakech against the Ivory Coast. Aubameyang, who did not feature in the final group match due to a thigh injury and a return to Marseille for treatment, said the problems ran deeper than any individual player.
Mouyouma, who had been in charge of the team for just over two years, will also leave his post. The move reflects a rare but historically not uncommon response by African governments to poor international football results—a practice that has become less frequent due to stricter Fifa regulations on government interference in football.
The sweeping actions signal a period of uncertainty for Gabonese football, with the fate of the suspended team and its players now in question as officials assess the next steps.