Gabon has dropped its sanctions on the national team and striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a surprising move, just days after their embarrassing exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). The decision comes as the country's new sports minister Paul Ulrich Kessany lifted the measures that could have led to the suspension of the Gabonese Football Federation (Fegafoot) by Fifa.
The sanctions were imposed on the team after a disastrous campaign in Morocco, where they finished at the bottom of Group F. The previous sports minister, Simplice-Desire Mamboula, called their performance "disgraceful" and sacked coach Thierry Mouyouma, among others. Aubameyang, who plays for the club Panthers, was also excluded from the team.
The decision to lift the sanctions marks a significant move by Kessany, who has been keen on rebuilding the country's football federation. The Fegafoot statement welcomed the positive outcome of the situation and invited Kessany to present them with details for selecting a new technical staff to replace Mouyouma.
Fifa has taken a tough stance against government interference in football associations, and any further complications could have had severe consequences for the Gabonese federation. With this move, the door is now open for Fegafoot to get back on track and focus on preparing for future tournaments like the 2027 Afcon.
The sanctions were imposed on the team after a disastrous campaign in Morocco, where they finished at the bottom of Group F. The previous sports minister, Simplice-Desire Mamboula, called their performance "disgraceful" and sacked coach Thierry Mouyouma, among others. Aubameyang, who plays for the club Panthers, was also excluded from the team.
The decision to lift the sanctions marks a significant move by Kessany, who has been keen on rebuilding the country's football federation. The Fegafoot statement welcomed the positive outcome of the situation and invited Kessany to present them with details for selecting a new technical staff to replace Mouyouma.
Fifa has taken a tough stance against government interference in football associations, and any further complications could have had severe consequences for the Gabonese federation. With this move, the door is now open for Fegafoot to get back on track and focus on preparing for future tournaments like the 2027 Afcon.
I mean, can you believe it? Gabon just dropped those sanctions on Aubameyang & their national team! They must've realized that punishing them won't help 'em improve... lol 
I guess this means Paul Ulrich Kessany is trying to put things right after taking over as sports minister. It's gonna be interesting to see how Fegafoot recovers and gets back on track for the next Afcon in 2027! 
! I was super worried that he'd be stuck out of Gabon's team forever 
. And honestly, who can blame them after that disastrous Afcon campaign? 
It's good to see the new sports minister Paul Ulrich Kessany taking charge and making some positive changes 
. The Fegafoot statement is all about moving forward now, which is super exciting 
. Can't wait to see what they do next! Maybe they'll even get Aubameyang back on the pitch soon 
️.
and how did auba's exclusion affect him? 
hope gabon can focus on building their team for the 2027 afcon, that'd be awesome 
. The fact that Aubameyang is back in the fold is a big plus, too - he's one of their best players, and having him on board can't hurt their chances in future tournaments.
. Will Fegafoot be able to get back to its former glory, or will this setback set them back? Only time will tell!
. By not suspending Fegafoot, it shows that he's willing to give them a second chance and help them get back on track 
. This decision is also a reflection of how fragile the relationship between governments and football associations can be 
. On one hand, it's good for the team to move forward, but it's also important to acknowledge that there might have been some issues with government interference in the federation's management 
. Either way, I'm rooting for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the Gabonese national team to bounce back from this and do better in future tournaments 
. I hope they're taking steps to improve their team's performance, 'cause a team that finishes last in their group ain't gonna make it far 
. Now that the door is open for Fegafoot, hopefully they can get back on track and start making some progress 
.
The Fegafoot statement welcoming this change is music to my ears - it's all about moving forward now. I'm curious to see how things play out with Kessany at the helm, especially with the 2027 Afcon on the horizon 
Just imagine being part of that team, getting dropped from the squad, and feeling like you've hit rock bottom. But instead of dwelling on it, Kessany comes along and offers a fresh start, lifting those sanctions and giving Fegafoot a chance to redeem themselves.
! I mean, who wouldn't want to see their football team back in the game? The sanctions were probably a tough pill to swallow, but it looks like Gabon is taking steps in the right direction 
, and if the team can get back together with a fresh new coach, they might just surprise us! The 2027 Afcon is going to be lit 
!
. But kudos to Kessany for taking a bold move and showing that he's willing to put the past behind him 
. It's all about moving forward now and rebuilding the federation 
. Seriously though, it's cool that they've lifted the measures, especially after that rough Afcon exit. I mean, who wants to be known for being the worst team at a major tournament? 
It's like they're saying, "Hey, we made mistakes, but we're gonna learn from 'em and come back stronger!" And kudos to Paul Ulrich Kessany for giving it another go – fingers crossed he can get Fegafoot back on track! 
It's kinda cool to see a change of heart, especially since this guy, Kessany, has been talking about making things better for football fans. 
. Did you know they have a special breeding program? Anyway, back to this news... I'm surprised Gabon dropped the sanctions so fast. I mean, it's not like Aubameyang wasn't good enough, he's still an awesome player, right? I wonder what led Paul Ulrich Kessany to make such a big change... maybe he's a huge football fan? 
. Still, I think it's a bit early to celebrate just yet - FIFA's still got a close eye on these kinds of situations 
. Let's see how this new team dynamics plays out before we start getting too optimistic 
what a bust 