Gabon Appoint Pierre Aubameyang’s Father as New Coach

Gabon has appointed the father of Arsenal star Pierre Emerick Aubameyang as the new head coach of the national team.

Francois Aubameyang “Yaya” replaces Spaniard José Antonio Camacho who was sacked earlier this month after a series of poor results.

According to the president of the Gabon Football Federation (Fegafoot) Pierre Alain Moungunegui, the new coach’s major task will be to lead the Panthers to the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon next year.

“Given the urgency and the current situation, it was decided to constitute, around the Panthers of Gabon, to have a good coach with a very good knowledge of Gabonese football and its environment,” he said.

Gabon was held by visiting Rwanda to a 1-1 draw in their second Group C qualifier at home a fortnight ago.

The Panthers’ next game will be a back-to-back tie with South Sudan mid next-month.

Fegafoot boss also announced that Yaya will work with Daniel Cousin as the assistant coach and Francois Amegasses as the general manager.

“These three former captains of the national football team deserve, with their strong knowledge on the field and experience of top level competitions, to transmit their experience and tactical abilities to the team.”

Yaya, 53, played for  French sides Laval, Le Havre, and Toulouse during his football career in the 1980s and ’90s.

He also captained Gabon when the country made its Nations Cup debut in 1994.