Gabon Lifts Suspension on National Team and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang After AFCON Exit

Gabon Lifts Suspension After AFCON Disaster

The Gabonese Football Federation has recently announced that all government restrictions placed against the National Team of Gabon and its star player, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, have now been completely removed. This announcement follows Gabon’s miserable performance at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, where they did not record any victories in Group F.

The elimination of such constraints represents a major reduction of tensions between international governing bodies, such as FIFA, and the Gabonese government relating to governmental intervention in the organization and operation of their football programs.

AFCON Group F Collapse Triggers Political Fallout

Gabon had a very bad AFCON tournament in Morocco as they lost all their three matches in the group stage against Cameroon, Mozambique, and the defending champions, Ivory Coast. The fans were very disappointed with the team’s performance and the Sports Minister made the announcement on TV that the team would be suspended from playing, while the captain Pierre, Emerick Aubameyang and the experienced defender Bruno Ecuele Manga would also be excluded.

This, in fact, made a big noise in African football circles as people were very soon worried that FIFA might impose sanctions.

New Sports Minister Steps In Amid FIFA Pressure

It all took a quick turn after the designation of Paul Ulrich Kessany as Gabon’s new Sports Minister. Aware of the legal and sporting jeopardy, Kessany acted quickly to reverse the sanctions that risked pushing Gabonese football further into chaos.

All suspensions have been lifted, Gabon Football Federation (FEGAFOOT) said in an official statement on Monday.

“The government measures suspending the national team have been lifted, as well as the exclusion of players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga following the unsatisfactory results of the national team at the Africa Cup of Nations,” the statement read.