The Gabon government have lifted the ban imposed on the national team and its star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after their exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Afrosport reports.
The Panthers finished bottom of Group F with no points, behind Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Mozambique. Their performance was branded as disgraceful by then-Sports Minister Simplice-Desire Mamboula, who announced a ban on the team, as well as the dismissal of head coach Thierry Mouyouma and a ban on captain Bruno Ecuele Manga, effective January 1.
However, in a turn of events, the new sports minister, Paul Ulrich Kessany, lifted those bans due to the risk of the world football governing body, FIFA, suspending the country’s federation, FEGAFOOT, from all football-related activities.
Government interference is a breach of FIFA rules and regulations and is taken with a hard stance.
According to a FEGAFOOT statement, the lifting of the ban was welcomed positively, with Kessany inviting the organisation to present the details for the selection of a new coaching crew that will replace Mouyouma.
