Barcelona striker and Gabon captain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, has announced his retirement from international football after 13 years of active service to the national team.
Aubameyang departs as his country’s all-time leading goalscorer with 30 goals with just weeks before Gabon are due to kick off their qualifying campaign for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The former Arsenal striker played 72 times for his nation and was the team captain for several years but following an early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations in January in Cameroon, Aubameyang hinted he would now focus on his club career.
While announcing his international retirement in an open letter to Gabon football fans on Wednesday, the 32-year-old Aubameyang said:
“After 13 years of pride in representing my country, I announce that I am ending my international career.
“I would like to thank the Gabonese people and all those who have supported me in the good like the bad times.
“I will keep a lot of good memories like the day I made my debut at Romnisports, or the day I came back from Nigeria with the African Ballon d’Or.
“Sharing it with all the people was an unforgettable moment. I thank our President, his Excellency Ali Bongo Ondimba who has always supported the Panthers and has always worked for football to evolve in our country.
“I would also like to thank all my coaches, staff and the players that I have come across during this career.
“Finally, I thank my father who gave me the desire to do like him, hoping to have made him proud by wearing our colours.”
However, Aubameyang’s international retirement has polarised many in the central African country as some people think the timing is not auspicious as the Panthers begin their next Afcon qualifiers in a few week’s time.
Losing the national team captain so close to the qualifiers is also seen by many as a let down as many of the young players in the team look up to him for leadership and inspiration.
Aubameyang was at the heart of the Gabon team when it reached the quarter-finals of the 2012 African Cup of Nations to equal their best performance in international competitions.
His last tournament with Gabon in the 2021 Afcon in Cameroon was a disappointment when he contracted Covid at the start of the competition and had to withdraw from the tournament without playing a game after being diagnosed with heart lesions.