Aubameyang Quits Gabon Squad After ‘Humiliation’ – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

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By Uche Precious

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has announced his withdrawal from the Gabon national team, saying he felt “humiliated” after being excluded and later recalled following the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Gabon’s all-time leading scorer was blamed by the country’s government for the Panthers’ disappointing AFCON campaign.

“They humiliated and smeared me even though I played at the AFCON while injured,” the 37-year-old said in a television interview.

“This is the last straw, and I’d rather stop here.”

Gabon crashed out of the AFCON at the group stage following three consecutive defeats, with their final loss coming against Ivory Coast.

“It’s a part of our national identity that has been weakened,” Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema said at the time.

The government dismissed the coaching staff, suspended the national team indefinitely and left Aubameyang and 38-year-old defender Bruno Ecuele Manga out of the squad.

“I think the team’s problems run much deeper than the little person that I am,” said Aubameyang who was one of Europe’s top strikers during his time at Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal.

Gabon’s new head coach, Sebastien Migne, will have to make do without Aubameyang as the team begins preparations for its first qualifiers for next year’s AFCON later this month.

Gabon are in Group A with World Cup quarter-finalists Morocco as well as Niger and Lesotho.