Aubameyang Blasts Gabon as He Announces International Retirement
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has announced his retirement from the Gabon national football team following a public dispute over his treatment after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The striker cited humiliation and damage to his reputation as the primary reasons for his departure.
Why it matters
The retirement of a high-profile athlete amid national team turmoil reflects broader tensions between sports governance and player treatment in international football.
“They humiliated me and tarnished my image”
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has brought his career with the Gabon national team to an end. At 37, the Panthers’ all-time leading scorer announced his international retirement following a major controversy stemming from the team’s elimination at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations .
The Deportivo striker explained that his decision was directly linked to the treatment he received after the tournament, when he was dropped from the national team alongside Bruno Ecuele Manga before later being reinstated.
“ They humiliated me and tarnished my image when I had played at AFCON while injured ,” Aubameyang said during a television interview. For the striker, that proved to be the breaking point: “ It was the last straw and I’d rather leave it here .”
Gabon’s AFCON disaster triggered the crisis
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