Aubameyang wants Gabon return a year after retirement
Striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has announced a return to the Gabon national team a year after he retired from international football, citing the influence of the country’s president, Ali Bongo Ondimba, in his decision to make a comeback.
The Chelsea forward, who as a youngster was also eligible to play for France or Spain, has had a testy relationship with the Gabonese Football Association since making his national team debut in 2009, and called it quits last May after netting 30 goals in 72 appearances.
But the 33-year-old, by far the most accomplished player Gabon has produced, announced on Tuesday he had made himself available again for the national side and spoken to coach Patrice Neveu.
“A few days ago I had the immense honour to be received by Ondimba and at the same time listened to the wise words he said to me as a father talking to his son,” Aubameyang posted on his official Instagram account.
“Following this, I, therefore, put myself at the disposal of my country and of the coach.”
Gabon top their qualification pool for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast next January, with two rounds to play, and can book their place at the finals when they host the Democratic Republic of the Congo next month.
The striker has seen his club fortunes dip having made five Premier League starts for Chelsea this season, netting once in October.
He looks set to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the campaign having been linked with a return to Barcelonan.
The Catalan club confirmed Aubameyang would get a La Liga winners medal from their title win this season despite playing only eight minutes before his move to Chelsea.