"Out of all three losses → Disbandment of the shock national soccer team." Realization... The government directly said, "Replacement of the director + expulsion of the highest score legend."

*This content was translated by AI.

Gabon, a traditional powerhouse in African football, was humiliatingly eliminated from the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and made an extreme prescription at the government level. He is a super-strong player who suspends his national team activities indefinitely and permanently expels Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (36, Marseille) from the national team.

British media 'BBC' reported on the 2nd (Korea Standard Time) that "the Gabon government declared the suspension of the national team's activities, dismissal of all coaches, and disqualification of key players Aubameyang and Bruno Ekuele Manga after the Nations Cup group stage was eliminated."

It's shocking news. According to the 'BBC', Sports Minister Simplis Desiree Mambula Gabon appeared on state television shortly after the 2-3 defeat against Ivory Coast on the 31st of last month and officially announced, "Considering the disgraceful performance shown in the Nations Cup, the government has decided to disband the coaching staff and suspend national team activities until further notice."

Gabon was eliminated at the bottom of all three losses in Group F of the tournament, losing to Cameroon, Mozambique and Ivory Coast in succession. In particular, in the last match against Ivory Coast, the team led 2-0 and lost by allowing three goals, and Mambula slammed it as a "disgraceful performance against ethical values."

On the same day, "ESPN" also said, "The Gabon government took strong measures against the tremendous poor performance in the Nations Cup."

"The Gabon government suspended the entire national team's activities and excluded Aubameyang, the team's symbol, from the starting list," ESPN said. "We dismissed all the coaches, including coach Muyuma."

In fact, Gabon, along with Botswana and Equatorial Guinea, suffered the humiliation of becoming one of the three teams that did not get a single point in the tournament.

"This move is a fair price for shameful achievements contrary to the values that the Fifth Republic aims for," the Gabon government said in a televised statement, adding that the Gabon Football Federation must take full responsibility for all this.

In particular, local reports have expressed heated debate over Aubameyang's exit. Aubameyang is a veteran striker who has experienced all three major leagues in the English Premier League (EPL), the German Bundesliga, and Spain's La Liga. "Aubameyang, Gabon's highest scorer ever, returned to Marseille ahead of the last group game to treat a thigh injury," the BBC said. "The government judged this as a lack of responsibility as a national team and imposed permanent expulsion."

In response, Aubameyang completely refuted the government's decision, saying through personal social networking services (SNS), "Team is much more important than a small being." He also pointed to the situation in which coach Muyuma complained about his team's interference, saying, "The national team is not a rehabilitation camp," regarding the transfer of Marseille and Aubameyang during the tournament.

The situation has gone beyond simple poor performance and is spreading to political repercussions and possible disciplinary action by FIFA. "President Brice Oligui Ngema Gabon, who came to power in a military coup in 2023, directly mentioned the tournament and criticized the lack of patriotism and waste of resources," ESPN said. "According to the FIFA articles of association, the government's intervention in the affairs of the football association of each member state is strictly prohibited."

The Gabon government's direct dismantlement of the national team and expulsion of players is interpreted as a serious issue that could lead to strong sanctions by FIFA, such as suspension of international competitions. In fact, the Gabon government is confused by deleting related videos immediately after the broadcast. As even the president himself announced a strong clean-up operation, Gabon soccer faces a desperate crisis of expulsion from the international stage.

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*This content was translated by AI.