Gabon has become the second nation to officially withdraw from the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers, citing the continued suspension of its domestic league as the primary reason. This announcement comes just hours after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed the host countries for the tournament, which will take place across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The Gabonese Football Federation (Fegafoot) made the decision public, emphasizing the unpreparedness of its national team due to the halt in local football competitions.
Fegafoot explained that its national A’ team, which was initially registered for the competition on the condition that domestic leagues resume, would no longer participate in the qualifiers.
“Given the non-organization of the elite championships for two years, Fegafoot has therefore decided to postpone the participation of the national A’ team in the CHAN qualifiers while waiting for the domestic elite competitions to resume in accordance with the rules,” read an official statement from the federation, posted on its Facebook page.
The suspension of the domestic league has crippled preparations for the local-based players who would have represented the country in CHAN.
Gabon’s decision mirrors that of Algeria, who was the first nation to withdraw from the tournament’s qualifiers. On September 22, the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) announced its own withdrawal, stating that it had opted to focus its resources on the development of youth football, both for its men’s and women’s teams.
FAF’s decision marked a significant shift in its footballing strategy, but the federation did not completely rule out a future return to the competition.
While Algeria’s withdrawal may have been driven by a broader strategic vision, Gabon’s exit appears more directly tied to the ongoing disruption of its domestic football infrastructure.
The country’s elite championships have been suspended for two years, leaving the national A’ team without the necessary match fitness and competitive preparation to take part in the qualifiers.
The 2025 CHAN tournament is set to feature national teams comprised of players who are based in their respective domestic leagues, making the absence of local competitions a critical issue for Gabon.
Without a functioning league, the nation’s talent pool remains underdeveloped, leading to the decision to pull out of the qualifiers.
With two nations already out, CAF faces mounting concerns over participation in the upcoming tournament. However, the organization has yet to comment on the withdrawals.
As the qualifiers draw near, the withdrawals of Algeria and Gabon highlight the broader challenges facing African football, especially in countries where domestic leagues have struggled to operate consistently.
Plutôt que de se précipiter à annuler la participation du #Gabon au #CHAN, si j’étais président de la Fédération, j’aurais lancé ne serait-ce que la Coupe du Gabon début septembre. Cela aurait offert des semaines de compétitions et une opportunité d’y puiser des joueurs locaux. pic.twitter.com/7pggeNxdVq
— Freddhy Koula (@FreddhyKoula) September 26, 2024
