African Football Discussion Thread Current Topic: 👉 AFCON 2025/2026

[Mr Reporter]

Yes i agree with you, Nigeria are not to be trusted with the hope to be crowned champions of Afcon tournament this year, they may be in a very good form, winning all the group stage games and also haunting to win more in the round of 16 and above but this there inability to remain consistent is one reason i will never trust them on that. Know doubt they are one of the best side considered to win the tournament but they are the only team that always turn the hope of all down at the highest point when all will be ready to see them go far in any tournament. So i do not  think they should be considered ready to win at last

After watching the disappointment from the Super Eagles in the world cup qualifiers, I have decided not to put my hope on the Super Eagles to win the AFCON. Their performance is brilliant in their past matches but that's not enough for me to have confidence in them that they can win the tournament. They are always not taking important matches seriously.

Well don’t mind me well I think you are getting things all mixed up here because the super eagle team are really trying their hard earn best on this in the World Cup AFCON, well the super eagles are more like not easy going team right now it just more complicated to them than ever because thing is not really working out for them right now, sometimes I just get frustrated to see how they are been treated by the so called NFF and the football government, well all their past performances where really not that good but there is still hope, right i feel the super eagles team are trying their best not to disappoint the country in this competition, which all have this idea that it will not be easy for them…

[Youngrebel]

Due to the poor outing of the Gabonese national team in the Nations Cup, the government has suspended the national team. The Sports Minister, Simplice-Desire Mamboula, announced the sack of the entire management and the ban of Pierre-Emerick and Bruno Ecuele Manga. The Panthers were finished at the bottom of Group F after losing 3-2 to the Ivory Coast.

Maybe the government wants to build a new team. However, I think this move is harsh because the players didn't intentionally lose games.

https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/01/afcon-2025-gabon-govt-suspends-national-team-bans-aubameyang/

I saw this news in social media today but it was not a comprehensive like the way you post here. I only saw the ban on the player and the sack of rue coach. I think this can also be a good move to restructure the National Team when they comes back with new management and players, the new players will do well for seen what happened to their former players. Many teams in Africa need this move to restructure their football teams.

[programmer3666]

I have a strong feeling that nigeria will win this year's AFCON, the guyz are playing in a magestic manner and not drawing too much unnexessary attentions to themselves, unlike previous AFCON tournaments where early stages of the match is always full of ups and downs, this year looks very different, although we are yet to play much tougher countries but I think our second match in the round of 16 will prove how far they are willing to go because a win over Mozambique is already sealed.

[Sandra_hakeem]

Due to the poor outing of the Gabonese national team in the Nations Cup, the government has suspended the national team. The Sports Minister, Simplice-Desire Mamboula, announced the sack of the entire management and the ban of Pierre-Emerick and Bruno Ecuele Manga. The Panthers were finished at the bottom of Group F after losing 3-2 to the Ivory Coast.

Maybe the government wants to build a new team. However, I think this move is harsh because the players didn't intentionally lose games.

https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/01/afcon-2025-gabon-govt-suspends-national-team-bans-aubameyang/

I stumbled on this few hours ago and there's nothing interesting to see here.. How do you ban a player that gave everything to his home country, but was cut short with injuries? I think a ban was a stern decision by the boards and management of the national team. The Gabonese weren't lucky enough this time, just like some other countries.. Improving the team's squad doesn't begin by an outright sack, especially if the team's abilities didn't depend on them. Now that the deed has already been done, hope the next team stands a better chance?

[Razmirraz]

Snip

I stumbled on this few hours ago and there's nothing interesting to see here.. How do you ban a player that gave everything to his home country, but was cut short with injuries? I think a ban was a stern decision by the boards and management of the national team. The Gabonese weren't lucky enough this time, just like some other countries.. Improving the team's squad doesn't begin by an outright sack, especially if the team's abilities didn't depend on them. Now that the deed has already been done, hope the next team stands a better chance?

The decision was the result of Gabon poor performance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where they finished bottom of Group F with zero points, a move seen as a major embarrassment. Gabon was also previously confirmed to have failed to participate in the 2026 World Cup after finishing runner-up in the qualifying group stage, then losing to Nigeria in the playoffs.
The stance taken by the Gabon government is too excessive in my opinion. The decline in performance could be due to a loose core squad due to the coach's inability to manage the team, a limited number of star players, and young players not developing as expected. So, in a situation like this, it would be unfair for Aubameyang and Manga to be banned from playing for the national team, as they have contributed significantly to the team.

[Hypnotizer]

I have a strong feeling that nigeria will win this year's AFCON, the guyz are playing in a magestic manner and not drawing too much unnexessary attentions to themselves, unlike previous AFCON tournaments where early stages of the match is always full of ups and downs, this year looks very different, although we are yet to play much tougher countries but I think our second match in the round of 16 will prove how far they are willing to go because a win over Mozambique is already sealed.

The Super Eagles have a lot of chances to win this AFCON, their performance is very promising but we know our Super eagles..lol, they have so far played in the best performance and they also need improvement with their defense and 🥅. I had strong confidence in them the previous AFCON but they lost in the final, they did try but it is very disappointing. In this year’s Tournament they are the third best team, so if they surf pass the Round of 16 and Quarterfinals then they will meet Senegal or Morocco in the semis or the final, hope they put in their best to win against those teams. Emphasis on improving their defense before their upcoming games if not, we can’t really say what will happen.

[SatoPrincess]

Due to the poor outing of the Gabonese national team in the Nations Cup, the government has suspended the national team. The Sports Minister, Simplice-Desire Mamboula, announced the sack of the entire management and the ban of Pierre-Emerick and Bruno Ecuele Manga. The Panthers were finished at the bottom of Group F after losing 3-2 to the Ivory Coast.

Maybe the government wants to build a new team. However, I think this move is harsh because the players didn't intentionally lose games.

https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/01/afcon-2025-gabon-govt-suspends-national-team-bans-aubameyang/

I bet FIFA is as confused as I am. The AFCON is a tournament where the abnormal is the norm. Never I have seen that a government suspended its national team. Why pick on only Aubameyang though? This makes me wonder what kind of promises were made and the expectations they had.

[Barikui1]

I bet FIFA is as confused as I am. The AFCON is a tournament where the abnormal is the norm. Never I have seen that a government suspended its national team. Why pick on only Aubameyang though? This makes me wonder what kind of promises were made and the expectations they had.

This is why politicians should stay away from football entirely because all their decisions concerning footballing activities are always wrong.
You asked a very good question, what were they even expecting a team like gabon to achieve in this ongoing afcon?
And pushing blames on Patrick aubameyang makes no sense because they are setting a dangerous precedence for upcoming players that might want to change their nationality or want to represent Gabon in any ongoing of forthcoming competition, they will want to think twice first before representing Gabon, since the government is now targeting any player that is not doing well while representing Gabon in any Fifa competition.
So Fifa should not keep quiet about this because the future repercussions will be much, since most government around the world will want to do such if Fifa let this to slide.

[Spaceman1000$]

Due to the poor outing of the Gabonese national team in the Nations Cup, the government has suspended the national team. The Sports Minister, Simplice-Desire Mamboula, announced the sack of the entire management and the ban of Pierre-Emerick and Bruno Ecuele Manga. The Panthers were finished at the bottom of Group F after losing 3-2 to the Ivory Coast.

Maybe the government wants to build a new team. However, I think this move is harsh because the players didn't intentionally lose games.

https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/01/afcon-2025-gabon-govt-suspends-national-team-bans-aubameyang/

I bet FIFA is as confused as I am. The AFCON is a tournament where the abnormal is the norm. Never I have seen that a government suspended its national team. Why pick on only Aubameyang though? This makes me wonder what kind of promises were made and the expectations they had.

The Gabonese government is doing extreme with this measures, football is a sport, regardless of the results your team have, you should show sportsmanship, why suspend the national team, if the results they got from the AFCON is not what they where yearning for, why not prepare very well for next time so you could get a good result in the next AFCON. I believe CAF is going to look into this situation.

[Richbased]

Due to the poor outing of the Gabonese national team in the Nations Cup, the government has suspended the national team. The Sports Minister, Simplice-Desire Mamboula, announced the sack of the entire management and the ban of Pierre-Emerick and Bruno Ecuele Manga. The Panthers were finished at the bottom of Group F after losing 3-2 to the Ivory Coast.

Maybe the government wants to build a new team. However, I think this move is harsh because the players didn't intentionally lose games.

https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/01/afcon-2025-gabon-govt-suspends-national-team-bans-aubameyang/

Who knows, their government must have spent a lot of money in the AFCON which could be the reason why they suspended the national team. However, i also think it's a harsh decision on the National team. The sacking of the entire management and the ban placed on some of the players by the Sports Minister should have been enough instead of suspending the whole team. Their actions will not remedy the situation as it will even do more harm when the suspension will be lifted because some home based players will struggle with their fitness. Though sometimes, punishment do have a positive impact so they might return back stronger.

[Nightwatchmare]

Yes I didn't watch the Match but I looked the Match from Niger Delta TV (NDTV).
A sport analyst said, If Uganda scored Nigeria, which they would have prevented to the end based on their domination of the game, when they meet the major teams they might lose out.

The super eagles of Nigeria conceding goals in all the matches they played in the Afcon group stage is worrisome, but you should not forget that the super eagles of Nigeria did absolutely well in the 3 matches they played in the Afcon tournament, and they even proved plenty of people wrong by finishing as the leader of group c. If the super eagles of Nigeria lose against a major team or big team in the Afcon tournament, it will not be because they easily concede a goal, but it will be because they could not create plenty of chances against the major team or big team.

[Donneski]

Due to the poor outing of the Gabonese national team in the Nations Cup, the government has suspended the national team. The Sports Minister, Simplice-Desire Mamboula, announced the sack of the entire management and the ban of Pierre-Emerick and Bruno Ecuele Manga. The Panthers were finished at the bottom of Group F after losing 3-2 to the Ivory Coast.

Maybe the government wants to build a new team. However, I think this move is harsh because the players didn't intentionally lose games.

https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/01/afcon-2025-gabon-govt-suspends-national-team-bans-aubameyang/

If the Garbonese government wants to reform the national team, I don't think every action taken here was actually worth it. I understand the disappointment of finishing as the bottom team in F even when bookmakers had given them chance to progress to the next stage but why ban the two senior players? Were they the reason they had a poor outing in the CAF African Cup Of Nations that's still going on? I personally think it's a disrespectful decision especially to Pierre-Emerickb Aubameyang who's done so much to put the Garbonese flag on the world stage.

[Fiatless]

I bet FIFA is as confused as I am. The AFCON is a tournament where the abnormal is the norm. Never I have seen that a government suspended its national team. Why pick on only Aubameyang though? This makes me wonder what kind of promises were made and the expectations they had.

There has been no official statement from the Gabonese government on why they banned Pierre-Emerick and Bruno Ecuele Manga. Both players are very influential in the national team and have contributed a lot to the team. Maybe details will be exposed in the future.

I know that FIFA rules forbid government interference in the administration of football, like the elections of officials. But I don't know if it is a violation of FIFA rules to suspend all the players in the national team.   

[Berry2d]

I have a strong feeling that nigeria will win this year's AFCON, the guyz are playing in a magestic manner and not drawing too much unnexessary attentions to themselves, unlike previous AFCON tournaments where early stages of the match is always full of ups and downs, this year looks very different, although we are yet to play much tougher countries but I think our second match in the round of 16 will prove how far they are willing to go because a win over Mozambique is already sealed.

My brother please wake up from that dream, the Nigeria i know is a ceremonial team and not people with vision to get to the next level in football. Not that the super eagles of Nigeria never have what it takes to win the tournament, but there are alot of political involvements going on in the team that makes them go backward when its time to push. If only sentimental selections of players will be eliminated in the team they will go far, which i cant see coming now.

[DYOR+BTC]

Yes i agree with you, Nigeria are not to be trusted with the hope to be crowned champions of Afcon tournament this year, they may be in a very good form, winning all the group stage games and also haunting to win more in the round of 16 and above but this there inability to remain consistent is one reason i will never trust them on that. Know doubt they are one of the best side considered to win the tournament but they are the only team that always turn the hope of all down at the highest point when all will be ready to see them go far in any tournament. So i do not  think they should be considered ready to win at last

After watching the disappointment from the Super Eagles in the world cup qualifiers, I have decided not to put my hope on the Super Eagles to win the AFCON. Their performance is brilliant in their past matches but that's not enough for me to have confidence in them that they can win the tournament. They are always not taking important matches seriously.

Thank god you realise early if not it would have been the greatest mistake of your life supporting and believing the super eagles of Nigeria will win the African cup of nations this year. Each time i see people talk about how the super eagles of Nigeria are dominating and possessive in there games a always watch them with my left eye because they don't know what they are doing because they super eagles i know will take you to the highest point with hope of victory without knowing they have different plans for you at last. If not for that reasons, who where there in that world cup qualifiers group that they cant win, instead they went and made us loss all.

[GiftedMAN]

I bet FIFA is as confused as I am. The AFCON is a tournament where the abnormal is the norm. Never I have seen that a government suspended its national team. Why pick on only Aubameyang though? This makes me wonder what kind of promises were made and the expectations they had.

There has been no official statement from the Gabonese government on why they banned Pierre-Emerick and Bruno Ecuele Manga. Both players are very influential in the national team and have contributed a lot to the team. Maybe details will be exposed in the future.

I know that FIFA rules forbid government interference in the administration of football, like the elections of officials. But I don't know if it is a violation of FIFA rules to suspend all the players in the national team.   

Though FIFA frowns at government interference in football adminstration, some national teams especially in Africa are still being controlled by the government or being hugely influenced by the men in power and that's what I think happened in the Gabon case. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga is reported to will so much power in the national team and other reports also suggest that they influence the coach's team selection, so I believe that's the reason they were banned.
I don't think FIFA will be acting on the news but if it really went against the laid down rules of the football world governing body, stringent actions are expected at the end.

[Callido]

With the current way the Nigerian super eagles is playing, we might be surprised to see them reaching the final of the AFCON.
My fear is that anytime Osimhen does not play, it means we are not sure of winning because he has been one of the major reasons why we have been winning several of our matches. The tournament is going to be very competitive and I hope to see super eagles playing to their best.

Anything is possible, being extremely confident is what i don't want to put myself into. The Super Eagles are fond of disappointing us at a time when we want them to be exceptional. We came into the round of 16 with perfection, whole 9 points for the three games played at the group stage, we still had the best goal difference, proof that no team comes close.

If we uphold our brilliance in every game, we will make it to the AFCON final, no doubt we have the potential and squad depth to reach, if our players are also willing to cooperate, i assume they already have the best of support from Nigerians.

[Wakate]

I believe we can win the Afcon this year. It's like I just have faith in this one. The last one that was played in ivory coast I didn't even expect us to reach the final because of the way we were playing and defending. But this time it's is different we are playing really well. Our attackers are doing their best . This was what we needed during the world cup qualifers, hadn't been we showed this kind of level against our opponents we would have qualified. Nevertheless our main goal now is getting that Afcon back to Nigeria. Our Ko round against Mozambique should be easy but we can't still underestimate them.

Oh, you are still having faith in the super eagles to deliver the trophy for Nigeria when they could not even qualified for the world cup competition which could have shown that Nigeria football team really knew what they were doing.
I don't trust this current players because I know they could fuck up at anytime and out the blame on black magic used by other country.

[Salahmu]

This is why politicians should stay away from football entirely because all their decisions concerning footballing activities are always wrong.
You asked a very good question, what were they even expecting a team like gabon to achieve in this ongoing afcon?
And pushing blames on Patrick aubameyang makes no sense because they are setting a dangerous precedence for upcoming players that might want to change their nationality or want to represent Gabon in any ongoing of forthcoming competition, they will want to think twice first before representing Gabon, since the government is now targeting any player that is not doing well while representing Gabon in any Fifa competition.
So Fifa should not keep quiet about this because the future repercussions will be much, since most government around the world will want to do such if Fifa let this to slide.

What has aubameyang done that made there government to suspend him, he  was the last person I think would get any suspension on his national team because Gabon doesn't have another center forward like aubameyang so even if they have to train another person he will definitely not going to cover as much as the suspended player, you are right because this judgment is done by politician because if it was people that understood sports they will not attack the head of the team, aubameyang even scored for Gabon against Mozambique, perhaps aubameyang should use this suspension to retire from national team.

[Sexylizzy2813]

Oh, you are still having faith in the super eagles to deliver the trophy for Nigeria when they could not even qualified for the world cup competition which could have shown that Nigeria football team really knew what they were doing.
I don't trust this current players because I know they could fuck up at anytime and out the blame on black magic used by other country.

I get where you're going, they messed up big time but haven't you noticed that this very Super Eagles are different from the ones that played in the World Cup qualification? Same players but different energy, they can do better but the only thing is not to rely on the 100% because anything that may annoy we the supporters can happen. We are in a very hard phase now where if any country is beaten that is the end so now they can do better to avoid defeat no matter who they face, that I believe. Black magic or not, they will do what they have to do to get to the finals and I can't wait for them to face Ivory Coast to repeat last AFCON finals.