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Daniel Cousin named Gabon coach after announcement blunder

The Federation had previously named Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s father as joint-coach before being forced to back track

Daniel Cousin has officially been unveiled as Gabon's new national team boss
Image: Daniel Cousin has officially been unveiled as Gabon's new national team boss

Former Hull City and Rangers striker Daniel Cousin has been named Gabon coach after the country's football federation initially announced the role would be shared with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s father.

Gabon's Football Federation (Fegafoot) was forced to admit it had previously named Pierre Francois Aubameyang in the role without any deal actually being put in place.

The Association was forced to apologise for the confusion after the Arsenal striker took to social media to say his father had not agreed to take the job, was, in fact, ill and did not want it anyway.

"You were wondering why I have problems with you, why I don't want to come and play for the national team," Aubameyang wrote on Instagram referring to the Gabon federation. "This is another demonstration of why.

"You have told the whole world about my father, the so-called coach of the national team, when you did not even get his agreement!

"The president of the federation called my dad but did not even care to ask about his state of health. He's unwell at the moment."

He then went on to describe the situation as "another example of the federation's amateurism".

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Fegafoot responded by saying the announcement was made in good faith following positive discussions as well as pressure from the Ministry of Sports to have a new manager in place by Wednesday.

Cousin will take sole charge of the Panthers, replacing Juan Antonio Camacho after the former Spain boss won just two matches during his two year spell.

Gabon are currently third in Group C of their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group and face a must-win double-header with South Sudan next month.

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