Sports

Aubameyang Banned As Gabon Government Suspends National Team After AFCON Exit

Published

6 months ago

January 3, 2026

Gabon’s Sports Minister, Simplice-Desire Mamboula, has announced sweeping sanctions following the national team’s poor outing at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), including the suspension of the entire squad, the dismissal of the coaching crew, and the banning of senior players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga.

The decision came after Gabon suffered a dramatic 3–2 defeat to the defending champions, the Ivory Coast national football team, on Wednesday, with Bazoumana Toure scoring the injury-time winner. The loss sealed Gabon’s third defeat in as many Group F matches, leaving the Panthers bottom of the group behind Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Mozambique.

“Given the Panthers’ disgraceful performance at the AFCON, the government has decided to dissolve the technical staff, suspend the national team until further notice, and remove players Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang,” Mamboula said during a televised address late Wednesday.

The video of the announcement was briefly taken down from official platforms hours after airing before being reposted on Thursday.

Gabon’s AFCON campaign had already come under review by the Council of Ministers following Sunday’s 3–2 loss to 102nd-ranked Mozambique, a result that confirmed the team’s failure to reach the knockout stage. Aubameyang subsequently returned to his French club, Marseille, citing a thigh injury.

Reacting to the situation, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema described the team’s showing as damaging to the country’s image. “This has weakened part of our national identity,” he said in an official statement released on Wednesday. He added that the national team’s struggles revealed “a lack of method and the dispersion of resources,” and promised “strong and structural decisions” to restore discipline and ambition in sports governance.

However, the government’s intervention could attract sanctions from FIFA, which prohibits state interference in the management of its member football associations.

Sports

Ronaldo One Of Greatest Players Of All-Time, Yet He’s Not In First Place – Messi

Published

2 days ago

June 18, 2026

Uthman Abdulganiyu

Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, has hailed Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario as one of the greatest players of all-time in the FIFA World Cup scoring charts after scoring a hat-trick in his side’s 3-0 win over Algeria this week.

Messi also expressed surprise that the former Inter Milan and Real Madrid striker wasn’t in first place.

The 38-year-old Inter Miami forward surpassed Ronaldo’s 15 World Cup goals before equalling Germany legend Miroslav Klose’s 16 World Cup goals, thanks to his three goals against Algeria in their World Cup opener.

“It is a great honour to be able to compete with all these greats, including Ronaldo Nazario, among the players I have watched,” Messi said (as per Albiceleste Talk).

“He was one of the greatest players of all time, and yet he is not in first place. So in the end, it’s just a statistic.”

Messi will now hope to lead Argentina to victory when they face Austria in their next game.

Sports

2026 World Cup: ‘No plan to stop Ronaldo, he’s not the same’ – DR Congo’s Mukau

Published

2 days ago

June 18, 2026

Uthman Abdulganiyu

DR Congo midfielder, Ngal Ayel Mukau, has admitted there was no tactical plan to contain Cristiano Ronaldo in their 2026 World Cup opener. The Leopards held Portugal to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday, after Yohan Wissa’s header cancelled out Joao Neves’ goal.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Mukau accepted Ronaldo is still one of the greatest players, but is not the same as before.

He said: “A special plan to contain Cristiano Ronaldo? To be honest, not really.

“We know that he isn’t the same as before. He’s a bit older now. But still, he’s one of the greatest… much respect to him.” Mukau’s comments come amid calls from fans and pundits for Ronaldo to be given limited playing time in the national team.

Sports

W’Cup: Ghana Beat Panama 1-0, Diaz Shine In Colombia 3-1 Win Over Uzbekistan

Published

2 days ago

June 18, 2026

Uthman Abdulganiyu

Ghana won a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening World Cup Group L clash in Toronto on Wednesday.

Caleb Yirenkyi bundled in the winning goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time, sending thousands of Ghanaians in Canada’s largest city into a frenzy and settling an otherwise attritional battle.

Both sides largely struggled to generate chances in the first half after Panama striker Cecilio Waterma’s second minute attempt was steered away by outstretched Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi.

The Black Stars didn’t attempt a shot on goal through the first half.

The second half played out under steady rain at the Toronto Stadium but saw more sustained attacking play.

Cristian Martinez triggered a massive roar from the loud Panamanian contingent when he lashed a shot into the side-netting in the 60th minute.

But the match looked headed for a scoreless draw until Yirenkyi put the Black Stars ahead.

Ghana’s veteran coach Carlos Queiroz turned to his side’s fans after the goal, urging them on in celebration.

Queiroz only took charge of the Black Stars a couple of months before the start of the tournament.

Wednesday’s fixture made him only the second coach to appear in five consecutive World Cups, after leading Portugal in 2010 and Iran in 2014, 2018 and 2022.

Loud boos rang out across the crowd of nearly 43,000 during a second-half hydration break under pouring rain.

Ghana triumphed despite being without Villarreal midfielder Thomas Partey, who is facing trial on rape charges in Britain. Canadian authorities denied him a World Cup visa, over the British case.

Colombia beat debutant Uzbekistan

Colombia beat World Cup debutants Uzbekistan 3-1 in their opening Group K game on Wednesday thanks to an inspired performance from Luis Diaz at the Estadio Azteca.

The Bayern Munich forward provided an assist, a goal and also hit the post as the Colombians resisted a battling performance from the Uzbeks in front of 80,824 spectators in Mexico City.

Diaz’s superb lofted pass allowed Daniel Munoz to volley in after 40 minutes, but Abbosbek Fayzullaev equalized with his nation’s maiden World Cup goal as he reacted first to head in a rebound from Eldor Shomurodov’s saved volley.

Diaz put Colombia back into the lead as he fired a shot that Uzbek goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov should have stopped.

In the dying seconds Jaminton Campaz made it three for Colombia with a fine header.

The win put Colombia top of a group that also features Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo, who drew 1-1 earlier.

AFP