Pierre Emerick Aubameyang scored four goals to inspire Gabon’s 4-3 win over Gambia in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The Gabonese captain delivered a stunning performance that boosted his country’s play off hopes but ended the night with a red card.
The 36 year old striker received two yellow cards, one for an intense goal celebration where he hit the corner flag, and another for shoving an opponent.
After the match, Aubameyang addressed his actions on Instagram, linking his emotions to a painful memory from 2020.
“Sleeping on the ground. We haven’t forgotten. Rage won out, and I apologize, but a man’s emotions sometimes… God is great,” he wrote.
Aubameyang referred to an incident during the 2021 AFCON qualifiers when Gabon’s team spent a night stranded at Banjul airport.
The players slept on the floor after Gambian officials delayed their entry. The striker publicly condemned the treatment and criticised CAF’s silence.
CAF fined Gambia $100,000, half suspended, and punished Gabon’s federation $10,000 for “offensive content” shared by Aubameyang.
The forward never forgot the humiliation, and his latest performance against Gambia carried both revenge and emotion.
Aubameyang’s four goals lifted Gabon to second in their group, one point behind Ivory Coast, and top among the best runners up.
However, his late dismissal means he will miss the next match against Burundi.
His display reflected brilliance and bottled up frustration. It reminded fans of his passion and leadership but also the lasting pain from that night in 2020.
Aubameyang’s performance spoke louder than words, he hasn’t forgotten, and he hasn’t forgiven.
