Gabon suspends two players ahead of Harambee Stars clash

As the countdown to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers ticks, Fédération Gabonese de Football and the newly appointed head coach Thierry Mouyouma have suspended two key players ahead of the Harambee Stars 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers set for Thursday 16th November at the Stade de la Renovation in Franceville, Gabon.

Taking to the media, the Les Panthers announced that FC Cincinnati forward Aaron Salem Boupendza Pozzi who plays trade in the Major League Soccer, and midfielder Didier Ibrahim Ndong who features for AL-Riyadh in the Saudi Pro League had been dismissed from the team that is now preparing to take on Kenya over indiscipline cases.

The press highlighted that the duo, despite being in the capital of Libreville since Friday, November 10, 2023, had intentionally delayed linking up with the team in spite of the federation issuing them with domestic flight tickets and two days to the crucial encounter the Panthers senior players are yet to report to the camp.

” The two internationals present in Libreville since Friday, November 10, 2023, to take part in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers never reached the venue despite the domestic flight tickets in their possession,” read part of the statement from the country’s governing body.

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Consequently, in a bid to restore discipline in his team, Mouyouma, who represented Gabon at the international stage until 2006, has been forced to cut out the players and prepare for his charges without two key members of his first team.

“Consequently, this Tuesday, November 14, 2023, two days before the match against Kenya, the technical staff, in view of the new paradigm based on discipline and out of respect for the entire group present in Bongoville, decided to dismiss Mr. Didier Ndong Ibrahim and Aaron Boupendza in from the team. This approach aims to put the LES PANTHÈRES national team, as an institution, above any other personal consideration. From now on, only Gabonese people who love patriotism, respect the den and are committed to defending the values of the republic with dignity will be called into the national team.” Concluded the press statement.

The development comes at a time when the Panthers will be without other two vital players due to suspensions, throwing a wrench into the team's preparations.

In a dramatic conclusion to the 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, Gabon’s first-choice goalkeeper Jean-Noël Amonome and defender Jacques Ekomie both saw red against Mauritania, keeping them out of the Harambee Stars match-up and will miss one more game for the Central Africa nation.

"The duo’s dismissal has resulted in a two-match ban that sidelines them for crucial fixtures in the early stages of the World Cup qualifying campaign," stated Gabonese portal Sport241.

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