DR ‹ › Gabon's Acting Minister of Sports, Simplice Désiré Mamboula, announced on Thursday the suspension of all activities of the Gabonese national football team until further notice, along with the dissolution of the team's technical staff. The decision comes in the wake of Gabon's defeat to Ivory Coast in the third and final group-stage match of the Africa Cup of Nations, currently being held in Morocco. Gabon had taken a two-goal lead in the match before Ivory Coast mounted a comeback, scoring three goals to finish top of the group. Gabon, meanwhile, was eliminated from the tournament, having also lost its previous matches against Cameroon and Mozambique. In a statement, the minister said the decision was taken in light of what he described as «multifaceted consequences that run counter to the moral values and exemplary conduct promoted by the Fifth Republic». The government also announced the exclusion of players Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, while calling on the Gabonese Football Federation to fully assume its responsibilities in addressing the situation.
