Gabon’s new Sports Minister, Paul Ulrich Kessany, has moved swiftly to overturn the sanctions imposed on the national football team, lifting the ban on the Panthers of Gabon and reinstating star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after the country’s troubled outing at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The Gabonese government had sanctioned the team following a disappointing AFCON campaign in Morocco, where the Panthers finished bottom of Group F.
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The performance was described as “disgraceful” by former Sports Minister Simplice-Desire Mamboula, who on January 1 announced a series of punitive measures.
Those decisions included the suspension of the national team, the dismissal of head coach Thierry Mouyouma, and the exclusion of Aubameyang and team captain Bruno Ecuele Manga from the squad.
Minister Kessany’s intervention now brings an end to the sanctions, easing concerns over possible disciplinary action from FIFA.
The world football governing body maintains a strict stance against government interference in football administration, and the situation had reportedly placed Gabon’s football federation, Fegafoot, at risk of suspension.
In a statement, Fegafoot welcomed the development, noting that the new minister referenced key upcoming engagements, including the draw for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, in his correspondence with the federation.
“Fegafoot welcomes the positive outcome of the situation,” the statement said.
The federation also revealed that Minister Kessany has requested detailed proposals for the appointment of a new technical crew to replace Mouyouma, signalling a fresh start for Gabonese football as preparations begin for future international competitions.
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