Gabon’s government lifts measures against Aubameyang and the national team following AFCON’s departure

The Gabon Football Association has announced government measures regarding the national team and striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have been suspended following their early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Gabon lost all its matches in Group F, against Cameroon, Mozambique and title holders Ivory Coast in Morocco, before the sports minister announced on television the suspension of the national team, captain Aubameyang and defender Bruno Ecuele Manga.

However, Gabon’s new Sports Minister Paul Ulrich Kessany has lifted measures that could have led to the FA’s suspension, as world football’s governing body FIFA takes a tough stance against government interference in the governance of football associations.

“The government measures suspending the national team have been lifted, as has the exclusion of players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga following the national team’s unsatisfactory results at the Africa Cup ⁠of Nations,” the Gabon FA said in a statement on Monday.

“The Minister of Sports, Paul Ulrich Kessany, emphasized the urgency of the upcoming deadlines, in particular the draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations,” it added.

Published on January 13, 2026