Gabon coach Thierry Moyouma warns of bleak future if domestic league issues continue

Gabon national team head coach Thierry Moyouma has warned that without a revived domestic league, the future of Gabonese football looks uncertain. Moyouma, who is aiming to lead the Panthers to their first-ever FIFA World Cup at the 2026 edition, currently has his side sitting second in Group F, just one point behind leaders Ivory Coast.

Moyouma stressed that without a functioning league and regular domestic football, the national team cannot progress. “The prolonged suspension of local competitions forces us to rely mainly on players based abroad to maintain a certain level of performance,” the coach said.

The situation has worsened as Gabonese representatives Mangasport and FC 105 Libreville were both eliminated in the preliminary rounds of the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup. Moyouma urged stakeholders to do more to revive the national league.

The coach emphasized that depending solely on expatriate footballers is no longer sustainable. “We can no longer rely solely on our players abroad, because unforeseen events, such as injuries, can occur at any time,” he added.

Gabon remains one of the nations heavily reliant on foreign-based players and dual nationals. They have already qualified for the 2025 African Cup of Nations and are still in contention for a 2026 World Cup spot.

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