The Gabon government suspends the national squad after a winless AFCON 2025 run.
In addition to Gabon’s early elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations, the government acted quickly to fire the technical staff of the national team and suspend the senior men’s squad indefinitely.
“The government has decided to dissolve the technical staff and suspend the national team until further notice,” said Mamboula, the acting Minister of Sports.
The Panthers were among the tournament’s early losers after a losing run, which heightened worries about the condition of football in the nation and prompted the decisive choice.
In Group F, the Panthers’ problems were evident right away. The team was put under pressure right away after an early loss to Cameroon established a bad tone.
Hopes of recovery faded further after a second loss to Mozambique, a result that left Gabon needing a strong response in their final group match to salvage pride and avoid a disappointing finish.
That response briefly appeared to materialise against Côte d’Ivoire. Gabon surged into a 2–0 lead, showing attacking intent and resilience that had been missing earlier in the tournament. For a moment, the Panthers looked set to end their campaign on a positive note.
However, the Ivorians mounted a powerful comeback, scoring three unanswered goals to turn the match on its head and seal a 3–2 victory. The collapse confirmed Gabon’s elimination with a record of three matches played and no wins.
The fallout was immediate and severe. In a clear signal of dissatisfaction, the Gabonese authorities opted to dissolve the entire technical setup and suspend the national team until further notice.
The move reflects frustration not only with results on the pitch but also with broader concerns about planning, leadership, and accountability within the national football structure.
