A month after the Panthers' sporting fiasco in Morocco, the debacle continues on the financial front. In a reminder letter dated January 14, 2026, the Ministry of Sports implores its counterpart at the Ministry of Economy to release nearly 3.7 billion CFA francs owed to service providers. Between broken promises and threats of bankruptcy for local businesses, the credibility of the Gabonese state's signature is dangerously faltering.

A month after the Panthers' sporting fiasco in Morocco, the debacle continues on the financial front. Of the total budget of 6.594 billion CFA francs allocated for Gabon's participation in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, only half has been disbursed, enough to finance the Fan Zone, bonuses for the players and coaching staff, and medical supplies. © GabonReview / Dall-E (Artificial Intelligence)

The historic elimination of Gabon's Panthers in the group stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with zero points, was merely the tip of the iceberg. In the shadow of the Moroccan stadiums, another defeat, far more devastating for the national economy, is now unfolding in the hushed corridors of power in Libreville. The financial department of the Ministry of Sports has broken its silence by sending an urgent letter to the Ministry of Budget demanding a "life-saving disbursement."

The alarm bell is ringing. In this official letter addressed to the Minister of Economy, Finance, Debt and State Holdings, the Minister of Sports, Youth, Cultural Outreach and the Arts is sounding the alarm about a situation that has become explosive. "To date, and despite the team's actual travel to Morocco, it appears that the amounts committed have still not been paid, which is causing harm to our regular suppliers," he writes with unusually blunt frankness in this official correspondence.

The figures are staggering. Of the total budget of 6.594 billion CFA francs allocated for Gabon's participation in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, only half has been disbursed, covering the costs of the Fan Zone, bonuses for players and technical staff, and medical supplies. Two duly issued payment orders, numbered 25020336 and 25020337, are languishing in the Ministry of Budget's files for respective amounts of 1.346 billion and 2.343 billion CFA francs.

The deafening silence of the authorities conceals a dramatic reality. The service providers mobilized for this continental endeavor—air carriers, hoteliers, logistics companies, and training stadium suppliers—are desperately awaiting payment. The Hotel Le Nomad, which provided daily meals for the Gabonese delegation, is among the collateral victims of this mismanagement. The ten accredited journalists sent on official missions by the Ministry of Sports are also waiting, as nearly 40 million CFA francs in per diem allowances remain frozen.

Even more dramatically, some of Gabonese sport's long-standing partners are on the brink of collapse. A group specializing in the logistical organization of national team travel, which has supported the Panthers in all disciplines for years, is nearing bankruptcy. This company, which agreed to extend credit to the state based on its perceived solvency, is now paying a heavy price for its blind faith.

This affair erupts in an explosive social context. Since January 2026, Gabon has been going through a critical phase marked by a surge in strikes in education, finance, and the oil sector. International creditors, particularly Eurobond holders and the BEAC (Bank of Central African States), are making repeated demands amidst a worrying cacophony.

This latest example of the Gabonese state's chronic inability to honor its commitments raises serious questions about its credibility. How can it convince future partners to support the country's sporting ambitions when previous partners are left high and dry? How can it aspire to international prominence when it can't even pay its suppliers?

The ball is now in the Minister of the Economy's court. Will the much-needed disbursement happen before the bailiffs get involved?