MAX SPORTS: Gabon

Showing posts with label Gabon. Show all posts

Thursday, 1 January 2026

GABON GOVERNMENT SACKS AUBAMEYANG, SUSPENDS NATIONAL TEAM AT AFCON 2025

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and one other played banned after Gabon eliminated from Africa Cup of Nations group stage.

Gabon's forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang attends a training session in Taghzout, on December 27, 2025, on the eve of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) football match between Gabon and Mozambique [Franck Fife/AFP]

Gabon’s government has suspended the national team, sacking the coach and kicking star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang off the squad in the wake of three defeats at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.

Gabon’s acting Sports Minister Simplice-Desire Mamboula on Wednesday announced the suspension ⁠of the national team on television after they finished last in their group and were eliminated from the tournament in Morocco.

“Given the Panthers’ disgraceful ‍performance at the Africa Cup of Nations, the government has decided to dissolve the coaching staff, suspend the national team until further notice, and exclude players Bruno ‍Ecuele Manga ⁠and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang,” Mamboula said after a 3-2 loss to the Ivory Coast in Marrakesh.

Gabon, coached by former defender Thierry Mouyouma, had already been eliminated after losing their opening pair of Group F fixtures to Cameroon and Mozambique, but in their final outing were 2-0 up over the defending champions before conceding three goals and going down ‌to a second-string Ivorian lineup.

Neither Aubameyang nor veteran defender Ecuele Manga played on Wednesday, with Aubameyang having returned to his French club Olympique de Marseille for treatment on ‌a thigh injury.

The former African Footballer of the Year responded on social media, saying on X: “I ‌think the team’s problems are much deeper than ⁠the individual I am.”

Aubameyang, at 36, had likely played his last game for Gabon in their defeat by Mozambique, as was also likely the case with the 37-year-old former ‌Cardiff City defender Ecuele Manga.

Disbanding the national team used to be a common reaction in Africa to disappointing results, but since world football’s governing ‍body FIFA has taken a hard stance against government interference in the running of football associations, it has been a rare occurrence.

- News Agencies

Wednesday, 31 December 2025

AFCON 2025: CAMEROON, IVORY COAST SHARE THRILLING DRAW; AUBAMEYANG'S GABON KNOCKED OUT

Amad Diallo celebrates after scoring a goal for Ivory Coast against Cameroon at AFCON. Getty Images

Amad's thunderous strike and Ghislain Konan's own goal ensured Africa Cup of Nations title holders Ivory Coast and troubled Cameroon shared the points in a 1-1 draw in Marrakesh on Sunday that leaves both on course for the Last 16.

Amad, who had struck the winner in Ivory Coast's opener against Mozambique, opened the scoring in the 52nd minute when he gathered possession on the right flank, cut inside, and curled a powerful effort beyond Devis Epassy.

However, the title holders' lead was short-lived, with Junior Tchamadeu forcing the equaliser three minutes later when the Ivorians failed to clear their lines, and the Stoke City man's shot deflected off Konan and looped over Yahia Fofana into the net.

With Kylian Mbappe, Samuel Eto'o, Aurelien Tchouameni and Jules Kounde among those watching on, Cameroon had the first major chance of the half, with Christian Kofane slapping an effort against the bar after being picked out by Tchamadeu's cutback.

Cameroon's ascendency was short-lived, however, with Amad becoming increasingly influential -- first setting up Vakoun Bayo, who headed over from close range in the 41st minute, before winning a corner after an effort was blocked by the Cameroon defenders.

Soon after the break, the Elephants had the ball in the net, with Franck Kessie meeting Bayo's knockdown with an acrobatic finish, only for the referee to determine the midfield general had been in an offside position.

As the game became increasingly frenetic, Cameroon struck next, Danny Namaso hitting a deflected effort which rattled the Ivorian bar, before Amad's decisive intervention to give the title holders the lead.

They were unable to settle before the Indomitable Lions were level, Tchamadeu collecting the ball in the box and watching on as his deflected effort fell in over the stranded Fofana.

Cameroon enjoyed the better of the late exchanges, and although Emerse Fae turned to Wilfried Zaha to give Ivory Coast an extra attacking dimension, neither team could alter the result in their favour.

The result also condemns Gabon to an early elimination after they were defeated 3-2 by Mozambique in Agadir in Group F's earlier kickoff, with the Mambas ending their 39-year wait for a victory at the Nations Cup.

First-half goals from Faisal Bangal and Geny Catamo gave Mozambique a commanding lead, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - playing despite ongoing fitness concerns - halved the deficit in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time.

Soon after the break, Diogo Calila restored Mozambique's two-goal cushion, and while substitute Alex Moucketou-Moussounda gave the Panthers hope with a 76th-minute finish from point-bank range, they were unable to get the equaliser their superiority arguably deserved.

After two games, Gabon are already out of the running on zero points, while Mozambique are in third on three, with Ivory Coast and Cameroon on four apiece and with identical records. Ivory Coast will be looking to advance as group winners when they face Gabon in their third group game in Marrakesh on December 31, while Mozambique and Cameroon clash in Agadir.

Earlier, Algeria secured their progression to the Last 16 as Group E winners following a 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

"Riyad Mahrez scored the only goal of the game - a 23rd-minute penalty after Rayan Ait Nouri was fouled by Ismahila Ouedraogo - to send the Fennecs through with six points from their opening two matches.

Sudan, who had been defeated by Algeria in their opener, responded with a 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea following Saul Coco's 74th-minute own goal.

Algeria will now meet the runner-up from Group D - Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo or Benin - in Rabat on January 6, with the winner of this match potentially set to meet Nigeria in a quarterfinal in Marrakesh on January 10.

The 2019 champions conclude their Group E campaign against Equatorial Guinea on New Year's Eve, while Sudan face Bu"

- Ed Dove

MATCHES OF THE DAY | AFCON 2025 | DECEMBER 31

Sunday, 28 December 2025

MOZAMBIQUE GETS A THRILLING WIN OVER GABON

Thursday, 18 December 2025

GABON | AFCON 2025 | MOROCCO 25

Saturday, 18 October 2025

LATEST TOP 15 FIFA WORLD RANKINGS IN AFRICA

Friday, 5 September 2025

2026 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION | CAF | GROUPS

Saturday, 22 March 2025

BENNI MCCARTHY TEATS TO KENYA'S SIX-GOAL THRILLER AGAINST GAMBIA AS BAFANA BAFANA LEGEND AVOUDS DEFEAT ON INTERNATIONAL COACHING DEBUT - 'VERY STRESSFUL. NOT HAPPY '

FKF

The former Cape Town City trainer began his journey as a national team coach on Thursday.

Harambee Stars during a training session

WHAT HAPPENED?

Kenya came back from behind to force a 3-3 draw with Gambia in a 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier Group F match at Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara on Thursday.

It was Benni McCarthy's first match as Kenya coach and his debut leading a national side.

Backpage

WHAT MCCARTHY SAID

“Very stressful, not happy, but listen for the neutral it was very entertaining, lots of goals, that you don’t usually see in a game of football in World Cup qualifiers, but I think the two teams eliminated each other in the opening half,” McCarthy said as per iDiksi Times.

“We had brilliant opportunities with our captain Michael, one of the easiest he would get, he doesn’t take it with the header then straight after that, Gambia got into the game with some good momentum and were awarded a penalty.

“Then we thought okay 1-0 up, they controlled the game a bit better – I think at the break it was a fair reflection of the game… second half was really bizarre, crazy, not sure if it was the altitude, heat or something got to us," added the former AmaZulu coach.

“We made two errors in defence and if you grant Gambia that chance, with the players they have, they usually accurate in front of goal, and it 2-0 up many think it’s over, so I changed things around with some fresher legs, because most players only arrived on Tuesday from Europe with one day of training together.

“We got given a penalty, I’m not sure to say it’s soft but if it was given to them I would have been furious, so I can imagine how their coach feels – happy to receive it, captain steps up and scores, gave us hope and made us really start [playing], we looked like we’d score next and then a fantastic individual effort from Muhamed [Bajaber], a young player I’ve given an opportunity from out of nowhere," he continued.

“He took the goal exceptionally well – we thought there was momentum to control the game but then another rookie mistake – but like I said, one training session with the team, the organisation and communication isn’t there yet.

“They got the 3-2 with six, seven minutes to go with a counter, where we should have scored, so I think it was a brilliant effort of the team [to draw]. Fortunately, the boys had a lot of fight, character and personality to fight until the end.

“Overall, a draw doesn’t help either team but I will take it as my first game in charge, happy with the point after a few days as coach of Kenya national team," the ex-FC Porto star went on.

“The positivity I see gives me a bit of hope that after another day or two, trainings we can squeeze in before the game against Gabon, gives me hope we can go one step better than today.”