Aubameyang Afcon Thigh Injury Ends Gabon's Africa Cup Of Nations Bid

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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang seems to have played the last match of a long Gabon career, after injury ruled the Marseille forward out of Gabon’s final Africa Cup of Nations group fixture, with the team already eliminated following defeats to Cameroon and Mozambique in Group F.

Gabon cannot reach the last 16 after losing 0-1 to Cameroon and 2-3 to Mozambique in Morocco, so the result against Ivory Coast on Wednesday will not change their fate, and Gabon will face that match without Aubameyang, who has already returned to Marseille.

Aubameyang suffered a thigh problem during the defeat to Mozambique, though the forward still scored in that game, and medical checks carried out afterwards confirmed discomfort in the left thigh, leading Marseille and Gabon medical staff to opt against any further risk in the remaining group match.

The Gabon Football Federation said in a statement: "Following the established medical protocol between Marseille and Gabon medical staff regarding Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, clinical examinations were conducted daily," adding that "The most recent examination confirmed the discomfort he experienced in his left thigh the day after the Gabon-Mozambique match."

The federation added that "Given the disappointing results, which cut short Gabon's participation, the medical staff, in consultation with his club, agreed to protect the player's physical well-being by exempting him from the final, inconsequential match," closing the door on any return for the last group fixture.

Aubameyang had carried a hamstring strain into the Africa Cup of Nations, and reports in France suggested Marseille were unhappy that Gabon selected the forward for the opening game, given the physical risk and the existing understanding over fitness management across club and national-team staff.

The 36-year-old is Gabon’s record scorer, with 40 goals in 86 international appearances, having first stepped away from national duty in 2022 before reversing that decision in 2023, but Gabon’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup already limited future competitive chances.

At club level, Aubameyang has scored eight goals and provided nine assists in 20 games for Marseille this season in all competitions, while only Mason Greenwood, with 15 goals and four assists, has more than Aubameyang’s 17 direct goal involvements under Roberto De Zerbi.

With Gabon’s Africa Cup of Nations journey already ended and medical staff prioritising recovery, Aubameyang’s withdrawal from the Ivory Coast match, combined with age, past retirement and Gabon’s absence from the 2026 World Cup, leaves little prospect of any further international appearances.