Aubameyang could come out of international retirement having retired since last year
According to reports, Gabonese player Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is thinking about playing for Gabon again after meeting with the country’s president, Ali Bongo Ondimba, to explore ending his retirement. After a fruitful 13-year career with the Gabon national team, the Chelsea striker announced his retirement from international competition 12 months ago. During that time, he scored 30 goals in 72 appearances. He is the only footballer from Gabon to have received the African Footballer of the Year award.
Aubameyang is thought to be seriously exploring the prospect of reconsidering his decision to retire from international football after President Ondimba requested him to do so. Aubameyang’s decision could be influenced by his close ties to the president and his family.
Sudan, Mauritania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are in Gabon’s qualifying group for the Africa Cup of Nations, which Gabon currently leads the table. The squad would benefit greatly from having Aubameyang on it if the make it to the AFCON tournament. Given that Aubameyang is one of the most accomplished athletes in Gabon’s history, President Ondimba allegedly wants to persuade him to end his international retirement.
The 33-year-old striker’s club career is at a crossroads as the summer transfer window approaches and his future at Chelsea is up in the air. Aubameyang, who joined the Blues from Barcelona last summer, has struggled to make the first squad this year and is predicted to depart Stamford Bridge before the start of the next campaign. He is apparently being pursued by a number of Spanish clubs, including his old club Barcelona.
It is unknown whether Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would choose to end his international retirement and resume playing for Gabon. But given that Gabon’s president and family are supportive of his doing so, it might be a tempting chance for the Chelsea striker to take into account as he plans his football career.
