Mueez Ajao
– Gabon captain and Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has retired from international football, a fortnight before the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign begins.
– The 32-year-old made a total of 68 appearances for the Panthers and scored 29 goals, making him the nation’s all-time leading scorer.
– The Gabon Football Federation (Fegafoot) said it had received a letter from Aubameyang announcing his decision.
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– “After 13 years of representing my country with pride, I would like to tell you that I am ending my international career,” the former Arsenal star wrote.
– “I would like to thank the Gabonese people and all those who have supported me in the good times as well as the bad ones.
– “I will always have great memories like the day I made my debut, or the day I came back from Nigeria with the African Player of the Year award. Sharing it with everyone is an unforgettable moment.
– “I want to thank my father who made me want to be like him and I hope I made him proud in wearing our colours.”
– In response, Fegafoot recognised his “immense career” and a player “who knew how to promote, thanks to his professionalism, the image of Gabon around the world”.
– “Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will always be model for future generations,” the Fegafoot statement added.
– “The big football family will be able to count on his expertise for the future.”
– Aubameyang was born in France and appeared for the French under-21 side but switched to play for Gabon to follow in the footsteps of his father, who captained the side at their first Nations Cup finals appearance in 1994.
– He did not always enjoy a cordial relationship with Fegafoot, including in 2018 when he criticised the governing body for announcing his father would be the new national team coach before a deal had been finalised.
– Aubameyang was on target on his international debut in a 2-1 win in Morocco in 2009, and featured at four Africa Cup of Nations finals for his country.
– The striker was in Gabon’s squad for this year’s delayed 2021 Nations Cup but missed all of their games in Cameroon after initially contracting Covid-19 and then suffering from reported ‘heart lesions’.
– The Panthers start their qualifying campaign for the 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast away against DR Congo on 4 June before playing a second Group I game at home to Mauritania four days later.
