Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Resigns from Gabon National Football Team
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the renowned former Borussia Dortmund striker and Gabon's all-time leading goal scorer, has made headlines with his decision to retire from the national football team. This announcement follows a tumultuous period in which the Gabonese government held him responsible for the team's disappointing exit from the Africa Cup of Nations, a situation that has evidently affected him deeply. During a recent television interview, the 37-year-old expressed his feelings of humiliation, stating, "They have humiliated and defamed me, despite my efforts to play during the Africa Cup of Nations while injured. This is the last straw for me, and I would rather step away now."
The Gabonese national team faced a disheartening performance in the tournament held in Morocco last December, finishing at the bottom of their group with three consecutive losses. In the wake of this failure, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema's government took drastic measures by dismissing the coaching staff and suspending the entire team indefinitely. Aubameyang, along with fellow player Bruno Ecuele Manga, was subsequently excluded from the squad. However, the new Minister of Sports, Paul Ulrich Kessany, who is also a former national player, later lifted these suspensions.
Aubameyang commented on the broader issues facing the national team, indicating that the challenges extend beyond his individual contributions. He recently transferred to Deportivo A Coruña in Spain and is currently preparing for the upcoming qualification matches for the next Africa Cup of Nations, where Gabon will compete against Morocco, Niger, and Lesotho.
This is not the first time Aubameyang has contemplated stepping away from international duty. In May 2022, he had previously informed the football association of his intent to no longer participate, only to return to the field a year later. As it stands, Aubameyang has made 80 appearances for his country, netting 40 goals over his international career.
As reported by spiegel.de.
