Guelor Kanga: Gabon Midfielder Sacked From Camp for 'Sneaking' Brother and Wife to Hotel in Paris

Guelor Kanga: Gabon Midfielder Sacked From Camp for 'Sneaking' Brother and Wife to Hotel in Paris

Lukman Mumuni
updated at March 22, 2024 at 7:36 AM
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  • Guelor Kanga has been dismissed from Gabon's camp in France
  • The midfielder was sent home for breaking one of the team rules
  • Gabon will face Senegal and Congo in a series of friendlies in Paris

Gabon midfielder, Guelor Kanga, has been dismissed from national camp for an 'indecent gesture' after he invited his relatives to the team's hotel in Paris, France.

The Red Star Belgrade attacking midfielder's brother and sister-in-law were spotted in the same hotel as the player, which is against the team's camping rules.

As a result, and to instil discipline in his team, Gabon's coach, Thierry Mouyouma, had to let Kanga leave despite the player being one of the stars of the squad.

Guelor Kanga, Gabon, Senegal, Friendly, indiscipline, hotel, sneaking, family, removed, team
Guelor Kanga, who has been ousted from Gabon's national team, seen arriving at the team camp for the friendly against Senegal. Credit: @joueursGabonais.
Source: Twitter

The Gabonese Football Federation released a statement confirming the forward's dismissal ahead of the friendlies against Senegal and Congo.

"By rallying the national team in Paris, for the two international friendly matches against Senegal and Congo, the midfielder was guilty of an indecent gesture by the technical staff," the statement on social media read.
"Indeed, [Kanga] was caught by the national team's security manager while he was lodging his brother, who was accompanied by his wife, in the same hotel as the Panthers - a proximity judged incompatible by the staff that wants to mark a break with old habits."

The decision to let Kanga leave, according to the statement, is to create a healthy football environment for the Panthers, who are hoping to make a return to AFCON next year.

"For Thierry Mouyouma and his staff, this difference in behaviour deviates from the disciplinary requirements established when he took office, to ensure the cohesion of a group with fair treatment. Especially that the player is one of the five captains chosen by the selector for his service status and his notoriety in the group," continued the Gabonese FA.
"Therefore, in order to ensure a healthy environment, the technical staff have asked the player to join his club and will not be able to take part in the two friendlies scheduled in France."

Although the player has reportedly apologised for his act of indiscipline, he will still miss the two matches in Paris.

"This, despite the unavailability of injured Jim Allevinah's back-minute further complicating the Panthers, Mouyouma remained uncompromising as to mark a new era in disciplinary terms," concluded the statement.

Gabon will face Senegal on Friday before taking on Congo on Monday, per Euro Sport.

Gabon beat Kenya in World Cup qualifiers

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Gabon came from a goal down to beat Kenya in their first game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

It was Kenya's first game since their FIFA ban was lifted while Gabon put behind them a disappointing AFCON qualifying campaign.

Masoud Juma opened the scoring for the Harambee Stars but goals from Dennis Bouanga and Guelor Kanga helped the Panthers to a win.

Authors
Lukman Mumuni photo
Lukman Mumuni
Lukman Abdul Mumin is a Sports Journalist based in Accra, Ghana. He has been writing for the past five years. Lukman joined Sports Brief as an Editor for the Local Desk in 2022.