Tag: Aubameyang

Gabon players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga have been reinstated to the national team following their expulsion after a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

Both players were removed from the Gabon team, the coaching staff including head coach Thierry Mouyouma was fired, and the whole squad was suspended by Gabon’s government after it failed to win a game at the Africa Cup in Morocco.

Gabon were the second team eliminated from the AFCON after consecutive defeats in their opening two matches, first falling 1-0 to neighbours and rivals Cameroon, before a 3-2 loss against Mozambique.

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The Gabonese Football Federation said the “government measures suspending the national team” and excluding the two players were lifted Monday. Mouyouma and his coaching staff remained fired.

The federation said Gabon’s newly appointed sports minister, Paul Ulrich Kessany, wrote to it to stress the importance of upcoming events, particularly the draw for the 2027 Africa Cup qualifiers. It said Kessany urged the federation to take steps to present him “with all the practical details for selecting a new coaching staff.”

Gabon’s interim sports minister, Simplice-Désiré Mamboula, had announced the suspensions, firings and exclusions on national TV after Gabon’s final group game against Cote d’Ivoire  on Dec. 31.

Kessany, a former Gabon player, was subsequently appointed sports minister on Jan. 3.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s international career looks to have ended with a whimper as he headed back to France on Tuesday and will miss Gabon’s last game at the Africa Cup of Nations finals.

After losing their opening two matches in Group F to Cameroon and Mozambique, Gabon have been eliminated with one match left to play against holders Cote d’Ivoire in Marrakech.

At the age of 36, it was expected the clash against the Ivorians would bring down the curtain on his 16-year international career but he will skip the last group game as he returns to his club Olympique de Marseille.

A thigh injury on the eve of the tournament in Morocco meant his participation was in doubt, but he came on after 30 minutes against Cameroon in Gabon’s opening game on Christmas Eve and played the full game against Mozambique on Sunday, scoring in the 3-2 defeat.

“Following the established medical protocol between Marseille and Gabon medical staff regarding Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, clinical examinations were conducted daily,” said a statement on Tuesday from the Gabon football federation.

“The most recent examination confirmed the discomfort he experienced in his left thigh the day after the Gabon-Mozambique match. Given the disappointing results, which cut short Gabon’s participation, the medical staff, in consultation with his club, agreed to protect the player’s physical well-being by exempting him from the final, inconsequential match.”

Aubameyang has long been Gabon’s talisman, electing to play for the team his father had captained, even after playing for France, where he was born, at junior level.

He made his debut for Gabon in 2009, scoring against Morocco in a World Cup qualifier, and went on to win 82 caps and score 39 goals.

Aubameyang helped Gabon reach the Cup of Nations quarter-final when they hosted the tournament in 2012 but was the only player to fail to convert his penalty in a post-match shootout loss to Mali.

The tournament in Morocco was Aubameyang’s sixth Cup of Nations finals appearance. He was African Footballer of the Year in 2015.

Earlier this year, he helped Gabon finish as one of the four best runners-up in the World Cup qualifiers, including four goals in the game against Gambia in October. Gabon, however, lost in last month’s Africa playoffs, ending hopes of qualifying for a first-ever World Cup finals appearance in North America next June.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could crown a chequered international career with success in the African World Cup playoff in Morocco this week but Gabon are very much the outsiders as four countries look to keep alive hopes of making next year’s finals.

Gabon meet Nigeria in Rabat tomorrow , followed by a clash between Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo, in a playoff tournament for the four best runners-up across the nine already-concluded African qualifying groups.

The nine winners are automatically through to next year’s finals in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. but this week’s mini-tournament offers the possibility of a 10^th  representative for the continent.

Tomorrow’s two winners will meet in a final on Sunday to determine the African side that advances to the inter-continental playoff in March, where the last places for the 48-team World Cup will be determined.

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French-born Aubameyang won the African Footballer of the Year award 10 years ago on the back of his scoring exploits with Borussia Dortmund and has been Gabon’s talisman since his first cap in 2009 but never able to steer his country to international success despite them twice hosting the Africa Cup of Nations.

The 36-year-old’s 80-cap tally might have been substantially higher had he not clashed with administrators and coaches and more than once temporarily retired from international football

But now in the twilight of his career, Aubameyang has a chance to take the small central African country to a first ever World Cup if he can keep up his form of recent months.

The striker scored all four goals as Gabon beat the Gambia 4-3 in last month’s qualifier before finishing second in their group and has pitched in with goals for Olympique de Marseille since his return to Ligue 1 from a spell in Saudi Arabia.

Aubameyang will share the same pitch on Thursday with one of his successors, 2023 Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen, who leads Nigeria’s hopes of a seventh World Cup finals appearance.

Cameroon have qualified for eight previous World Cups, more than any other African side, but their qualifying campaign has been overshadowed by frequent skirmishes between government-appointed coach Marc Brys and federation president Samuel Eto’o.

DR Congo’s only previous World Cup appearance was over half a century ago when the country was known as Zaire. They were leading their group but let a two-goal advantage at home to Senegal slip and lost 3-2 to finish second and have to try again in the playoffs.

However, Yoane Wissa’s absence through injury is a blow to their chances.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang produced one of the standout performances of the qualifiers, scoring all four of Gabon’s goals in a thrilling 4–3 victory over The Gambia.

The former Arsenal striker opened the scoring before Yankuba Minteh equalised.

Aubameyang restored Gabon’s lead, only for Adama Sidibeh to strike twice — once before the break and once just after — to put The Gambia ahead.

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But the 34-year-old captain dragged his side back, heading in his hat-trick before sealing the win with a thunderous strike from distance.

The night ended on a sour note, however, as Aubameyang was sent off for a second yellow card and will now miss Gabon’s decisive final group clash with Burundi.

Ex-Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang said on Wednesday he is leaving Marseille after just one season with Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood reportedly replacing him at the French club.

Gabon attacker Aubameyang, 35, joined the southern club from Chelsea last July and scored 30 goals during the campaign.

According to multiple media reports, English attacker Greenwood, who had charges including rape and assault against him dropped in February 2023, is being lined up by Marseille.

 “It’s time for me to start a new chapter,” Aubameyang said on Instagram. “I have always followed the advice of my father, who has allowed me to become the player I am and we have made this decision for the next part of my career.

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 “I spent a year filled with emotion and I thank the club, the staff, my team-mates and our supporters,” he added.

Greenwood had been suspended by United since January 2022 over the allegations but prosecutors dropped charges last year after key witnesses withdrew and new evidence came to light.

The 22-year-old spent last season on loan at Spanish club Getafe scoring 10 goals in 36 appearances.

Greenwood was tipped for stardom at United after rising through the Old Trafford youth system and went on to score 35 goals in 129 senior appearances for the club.