‘Humiliated’ Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang announces furious retirement from international football
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has played his final match for Gabon and announced his retirement from international football.
The forward confirmed his decision with immediate effect in a bombshell statement.
Despite being his nation’s all-time leading scorer, Aubameyang was dropped following a disastrous Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
He has not featured since scoring in a defeat to Mozambique in December and was left out of the squad completely in March.
It came after Aubameyang had battled injury to appear at the tournament despite suffering with a dead leg.
His decision to retire from the national team comes ahead of Gabon’s 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
Aubameyang statement
In a furious statement, Aubameyang said: “They humiliated me and tarnished my image when I had played at Afcon while injured.
“This is the last straw and I’d rather leave it here.
“I think the national team’s problems run much deeper than the little part that I represent.”
The 37-year-old scored 40 goals in 83 appearances for Gabon after making his debut aged 19 back in 2009.
His nearest active challenger for the record, Denis Bouanga, has scored just 16 international goals.
December’s AFCON finals were the sixth that Aubameyang has appeared at.
3
He was also part of the Panthers’ squad for the 2012 Olympics.
The former Arsenal striker opted to represent Gabon despite being born in Laval, France.
He had represented Les Bleus’ Under-21s just a month before his senior international debut for the African nation.
Aubameyang was also eligible to play for Spain, but chose to follow in his father’s footsteps by turning out for Gabon.
His dad had captained the national team during his own playing career.
Pierre Aubameyang later had two spells as assistant manager as well as coaching the Under-23 national side.
3
Despite retiring at international level, Aubameyang will continue to play club football.
His decision comes less than two months after signing for Deportivo La Coruna in July.
Aubameyang has signed a two-year deal with the newly-promoted LaLiga outfit.
In three appearances for the club, he has scored three goals to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
Credit: Source link