Gabon Reinstates Aubameyang and Ecuele Manga as Federation Lifts Team Suspension
The new sports minister has pressed the federation to present a plan for appointing a new coaching staff ahead of the 2027 qualifiers draw.
Overview
- The Gabonese Football Federation said Monday’s decision lifts government measures that had sidelined the national team and excluded two senior players.
- Head coach Thierry Mouyouma and his staff remain dismissed, and the search for a new technical team continues.
- Sports minister Paul Ulrich Kessany, appointed on January 3, emphasized urgency around upcoming events tied to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
- The sweeping sanctions were first announced on national television by interim minister Simplice-Désiré Mamboula after a winless group-stage exit in Morocco on December 31.
- Analysts note that direct state action in football can attract scrutiny from FIFA for potential interference in federation affairs.