Aubameyang ‘humiliated’ as ex-Arsenal striker quits Gabon national team
Former Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has retired from the Gabon national team, citing humiliation following his treatment by the government after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The veteran forward expressed frustration over being scapegoated for the team's poor performance.
Why it matters
The retirement of a high-profile athlete highlights the intersection of national sports, government interference, and player-management relations in African football.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cites 2025 Africa Cup of Nations treatment as captain steps away from Gabon duty.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made his name at Arsenal in the English Premier League [File: Alexandre Dimou/Reuters] By AFP Published On 2 Sep 2026 2 Sep 2026 Gabon captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has announced that he is stepping back from the national team, saying he felt “humiliated” by his exclusion and subsequent reinstatement after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The top scorer in the history of the Panthers was singled out by the Gabonese government as responsible for the AFCON failure.
“They humiliated and smeared me even though I played at the AFCON while injured,” the 37-year-old said in a television interview.
“This is the last straw, and I’d rather stop here.”
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