Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang banned from national team following Gabon exit

Marseille will not have gone without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for too long during the Africa Cup of Nations .

Last night in Marrakesh, Gabon fell to their third defeat in as many group stage matches as Ivory Coast staged a late comeback to claim top spot in Group F. The former Arsenal was not involved, having been released from the team’s camp due to a thigh issue after the second match, by which time their elimination had already been confirmed.

In the wake of that third defeat, the government of Gabon published a statement announcing the dismissal of the entire staff as well as the suspension of the national team as a whole. The two senior players, Aubameyang and defender Bruno Ecuele Manga (formerly of Lorient and Dijon, now at Paris 13 Atletico), have been banned from representing the national team.

Late last night, Aubameyang himself responded to his critics following the team’s exit in a post on Twitter: “I think the team’s problems go deeper than the minor person I am.”

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin – reporting from Rabat