Gabon coach says Didier Ndong’s international return still possible

Gabon national team head coach Thierry Mouyouma said the door is still open for midfielder Didier Ndong to represent his country. The 31-year-old midfielder announced his retirement from international football after an incident put him at odds with the Gabonese Football Federation.

Mouyouma told Gabon’s state-owned L’Union that he never had any confrontation with Ndong. “There was never a reconciliation with Didier, because reconciliation implies there was a problem beforehand. But he and I never had one. Directly, we didn’t know each other, but there was always respect between us.”

The Panthers coach confirmed that the former Sunderland and CS Sfaxien player did speak to him recently. “The purpose of our meeting was that we wanted to talk. And we had a very constructive discussion. Does that open the doors to the national team for him? But they were never closed to him.”

Ndong is no stranger to controversy. In 2016, he was sent home after falling out with the federation. The same feat was repeated in 2023, but this time the player has been in self-imposed exile from the national side. Mouyouma noted that discipline is a big deal in his team:

Gabon are second in their Group F 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifier. They are second with 15 points, one behind leaders Ivory Coast. Recent discussions between the head coach and Ndong could bring the midfielder back to the national side for the remaining crucial qualifying games and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.