Aubameyang's international future takes new turn

The international future of 2015 CAF Men's Footballer of the Year Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has now taken a fresh turn after reports suggesting problems between him and his national team coach.

After 13 years in the national team, the striker announced his retirement from international football back in May 2022. However, many were later stunned when the centre-forward confirmed that he had decided to come out of retirement a year later, in May 2023. 

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He made a brief return for Gabon duty in June and September last year for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, but since then, he has not been called up, with the country having since appointed a new manager.

In October 2023, Gabon named former Bidvest Wits star Thierry Mouyouma as their new head coach after sacking Patrice Neveu following his failure to qualify the team for the AFCON in the Ivory Coast. 

Since Mouyouma took charge of the side, Aubameyang has not played for his nation, with Gabonese media suggesting there has been a conflict of sorts between the player and the manager.

The marksman has been in fine form for his club Olympique Marseille this season, with a productive 23 goals and nine assists in 39 games across all competitions so far.

Things came to head in the latest international break, which concluded this week. When Aubameyang was once again left out of the squad that played friendlies against Senegal and Republic of the Congo, an unnamed relative of the player publicly spoke out.

The family member told La Provence last week: "The treatment that Mr. Mouyouma reserved for Pierre-Emerick is unworthy. They cast doubt on any future work between Aubameyang and coach Thierry Mouyouma. It's complicated to see them collaborating in the future."

However, all talk of tension between Aubameyang and the tactician can now seemingly be laid to rest after Mouyouma met with the goal-poacher for the first time since taking charge in order to bury the hatchet.

The pair appear to have made up, with Mouyouma posting images of himself and the former Arsenal star together on social media following their meeting.

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