Gabon captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has announced that he is stepping back from international football, saying he felt “humiliated” by the treatment he received following the country’s disappointing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Morocco.
The 37-year-old forward said he was particularly upset after being excluded from the national team before later being reinstated. Aubameyang also said he played at the tournament despite being injured.
“They humiliated and smeared me,” Aubameyang said in a television interview, adding that the situation had become “the last straw”.
Gabon exited the tournament at the group stage after losing all three matches, including a final defeat by Ivory Coast. Following the campaign, the Gabonese government dismissed the coaching staff, suspended the national team and initially excluded Aubameyang and veteran defender Bruno Ecuele Manga.
The decisions sparked criticism among some Gabonese supporters, while Aubameyang argued that the team’s difficulties went beyond any individual player.
Aubameyang is Gabon’s all-time leading scorer and has enjoyed a high-profile club career, including spells with Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal. He has recently moved from Marseille to Deportivo La Coruña in Spain.
His decision creates a major challenge for new Gabon coach Sébastien Migné, who must prepare the team for upcoming 2027 AFCON qualifying fixtures.
Gabon are drawn in Group A alongside Morocco, Niger and Lesotho.
Aubameyang’s international future now remains uncertain as he focuses on his club career.
