Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, at 37 years old, announced his retirement from the Gabon national team. The striker, who is the country's all-time top scorer with 40 goals in 83 appearances, revealed that the decision was motivated by the treatment he received after Gabon's poor campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The player stated he was humiliated and that his image was stained. In an interview with the "Talent d'Afrique" program on Canal+, Aubameyang explained that the last straw was being forced to play in the Africa Cup of Nations while injured, even knowing he was not in ideal playing conditions.
The Gabonese national team had a disastrous performance in the tournament, losing all three matches they played and finishing the competition without scoring any points. After the elimination, the Gabonese government took a series of punitive measures, including the dismissal of the coaching staff and the temporary suspension of the national team's activities.
