‘Humiliated’ Aubameyang quits Gabon national team

Gabon's superstar striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has decided to quit the national team, citing feelings of humiliation after being sidelined during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The 37-year-old, who holds the record for the most goals scored by a Panther, accused the Gabonese government of singling him out as the scapegoat for the team's disastrous performance.

Despite playing through an injury during the AFCON, Aubameyang was excluded from the squad following a series of three consecutive losses. The Gabonese President, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, publicly lambasted the team, accusing them of damaging the country's national identity. In response, the government promptly fired the coaching staff, suspended the team indefinitely, and removed Aubameyang and veteran Bruno Ecuele Manga from the roster.

This decision triggered widespread outrage among the Gabonese fanbase. Aubameyang, once a top striker in Europe with Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal, announced his departure from the national team, signaling a potential final challenge in Europe as he joins Deportivo La Coruna. The Gabonese national team, now under the guidance of new coach Sebastien Migne, must now devise strategies for their upcoming AFCON qualifiers, which commence later in the month.