Home / Sports / Aubameyang Quits Gabon Football Team After Humiliation
Aubameyang Quits Gabon Football Team After Humiliation
5 Sep
Summary
- Gabon captain retired citing humiliation after AFCON 2025.
- He scored 40 goals in 83 appearances for Gabon.
- The decision impacts Gabon's 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
Gabon's captain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, has announced his retirement from international football on September 5, 2026, citing humiliation by national authorities. The striker expressed that his reputation was damaged after he played injured during the disappointing AFCON 2025 campaign in Morocco, where Gabon was eliminated in the group stage. This decision marks the end of his tenure as Gabon's all-time leading scorer with 40 goals in 83 appearances.
Following Gabon's AFCON 2025 performance, which included three consecutive defeats, the Gabonese President criticized the team. Consequently, the government dissolved the coaching staff and suspended team activities, excluding Aubameyang and a teammate from the squad. This action drew criticism and led to Aubameyang's final decision to cease international play.
Aubameyang's retirement presents a major challenge for new Gabon coach Sébastien Migné as the team prepares for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. With Gabon having failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, securing a spot in the next Africa Cup of Nations is now a primary objective for the national team.
