The Gabonese Football Federation (FEGAFOOT) has confirmed it has received hundreds of applications from coaches around the world interested in taking charge of the national team, the Panthers, following the dismissal of head coach Thierry Mouyouma.
Gabon are currently without a substantive coach after Mouyouma was relieved of his duties in the wake of the team’s disappointing outing at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The Panthers failed to win a single match and were eliminated at the group stage, a performance widely described as one of the worst in the country’s recent football history.
The fallout from the tournament was significant, with the Gabonese government temporarily suspending the national team programme as part of a broader review of football administration and performance.
According to the federation, it has so far received 605 applications from coaches seeking to fill the vacant role. A large portion of the submissions are reported to be from European tacticians, highlighting the international interest in the position.
FEGAFOOT outlined a structured recruitment process, noting that the initial review phase will run from February 4 to February 10, 2026, during which officials will screen applications and produce a three-man shortlist. The final stage will then determine who becomes the next head coach of the Panthers.
Mouyouma had entered the Morocco tournament with optimism, but results failed to match expectations as Gabon exited early without registering a victory, ultimately leading to his departure and the federation’s ongoing search for new leadership.
