Rabat – Gabon captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to his career with the national team after a dispute with the country’s authorities.
The 37-year-old striker revealed his decision in a television interview, saying he felt “humiliated” by the way he was treated following Gabon’s disappointing campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
“They humiliated me and damaged my reputation, even though I played at the Africa Cup of Nations while injured,” Aubameyang said, according to French broadcaster RMC.
“That was the final straw, and I prefer to stop here,” he added.
Aubameyang’s decision comes less than three weeks before Gabon is scheduled to face Morocco on September 23 in the opening round of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
A poor AFCON performance
The conflict between the striker and Gabonese authorities dates back to the team’s campaign at AFCON 2025. Gabon were eliminated in the group stage after suffering three consecutive defeats, including a 3-2 loss to Ivory Coast in their final match.
Following the disappointing campaign, Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema criticized the national team’s performance, saying that part of the country’s national identity was at risk of being weakened.
The government subsequently dissolved the coaching staff, suspended the national team’s activities, and left Aubameyang andthe defender Bruno Ecuele Manga out of the squad.
The decision sparked criticism among Gabonese supporters, while Aubameyang previously argued that the problems facing the national team were much deeper than his own involvement.
Second retirement
The striker has now decided to close the chapter on his international career. Aubameyang is Gabon’s all-time leading scorer, having scored 40 goals in 83 appearances for the national team.
He had previously announced his international retirement in 2022 before returning to represent Gabon.
At club level, Aubameyang is continuing his European career with Deportivo La Coruña after leaving Marseille for the second time. The Spanish club recently returned to La Liga, and the Gabonese forward has already scored three goals for his new team.
His international retirement leaves new Gabon coach Sébastien Migné with a major challenge as the Panthers prepare for their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.
With Gabon having failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, securing a place at the next Africa Cup of Nations will now be one of the team’s main objectives.
