The Gabonese government has taken decisive action following the national teams disappointing performance at the Africa Cup of Nations, dissolving the Panthers technical staff and suspending the senior mens national team until further notice. The move underlines growing frustration at the highest level after Gabon exited the tournament without a single win.
Gabons campaign in Group F unravelled quickly. The Panthers lost their opening match to Cameroon, putting immediate pressure on the squad. That setback was followed by another defeat against Mozambique, leaving Gabon on the brink of elimination heading into their final group game.
In their last outing, Gabon appeared poised for a dramatic revival against Cte dIvoire, storming into a 20 lead and briefly keeping hopes of at least a win alive. However, the Ivorians staged a strong comeback, scoring three unanswered goals to claim a 32 victory and confirm Gabons exit from the competition. The result sealed a bleak record of three matches played, zero wins, and failure to qualify for the Round of 16.
The governments decision to dissolve the technical staff and suspend the team reflects deep dissatisfaction with the AFCON showing and concerns over the direction of Gabonese football. With the Panthers now in limbo, focus shifts to potential reforms and rebuilding efforts as the country looks to recover from a campaign that has prompted one of the most significant shake-ups in its football history.
