Aubameyang ‘humiliated’ as ex-Arsenal striker quits Gabon national team

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, one of Europe's top strikers during his time at Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal, has announced his withdrawal from the Gabon national team. The decision comes after he felt humiliated by his exclusion and subsequent reinstatement following the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The Gabonese government accused Aubameyang of being responsible for the team's failure at the Afcon.

Despite playing at the tournament while injured, the 37-year-old claimed he was humiliated and smeared by the government. With Gabon eliminated from the Afcon after three defeats, the team's suspension and Aubameyang's sidelining sparked outrage among Gabonese supporters. The veteran mainstays of the squad were sidelined, prompting a call for a deeper examination of the team's problems.

Aubameyang, set to make one last challenge in Europe, will leave Marseille to join Deportivo La Coruna in Spain's La Liga. As the new national team coach, Sebastien Migne, prepares for qualifiers for the 2026 Afcon, he will have to do so without Aubameyang's presence. Gabon will be in Group A along with World Cup quarter-finalists Morocco, Niger, and Lesotho.