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The 33-year-old forward retired from international duty in May 2022, leaving behind a remarkable record as his country's all-time leading goal scorer, with 28 goals in 68 appearances.
Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has announced his decision to come out of international retirement and make a return to the Gabon national team.
The 33-year-old forward retired from international duty in May 2022, leaving behind a remarkable record as his country's all-time leading goal scorer, with 28 goals in 68 appearances.
However, a recent meeting with Gabon's President Ali Bongo Ondimba has convinced Aubameyang to make a comeback.
Aubameyang took to Instagram to share the news and express his gratitude towards President Ali Bongo Ondimba.
He wrote, "(I) listened to the wise words he said to me as a father talking to his son."
The Chelsea striker acknowledged the honor of being received by the President of Gabon and confirmed his availability for selection under the guidance of coach Patrice Neveu.
Gabon, currently led by former La Rochelle defender Patrice Neveu, is leading their group in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.
With the possibility of securing their place in the tournament in Ivory Coast next January, Gabon will face the Democratic Republic of Congo in June.
Aubameyang's return will undoubtedly bolster their chances of qualifying for the prestigious competition.
The French-born forward, who made his debut for Gabon in 2009, has faced challenging seasons at the club level in recent years.
After a tumultuous period at Arsenal, including being stripped of the captaincy in December 2021, Aubameyang moved to Barcelona in the following transfer window.
Despite his limited playing time at Barcelona, the Catalan club has confirmed that Aubameyang will receive a La Liga winners medal for their title triumph this season.
Speculation has surrounded Aubameyang's future, with reports suggesting a potential summer return to Barcelona, where he started the 2022-2023 season.
However, Aubameyang's focus now lies on his international comeback and contributing to the success of the Gabon national team.
During his time in the Premier League, Aubameyang made a significant impact at Arsenal, scoring 92 goals in 142 starts for the Gunners.
However, his goal-scoring form has been less prolific at Chelsea this season, finding the back of the net only once in the Premier League.
Despite his goalscoring contributions in the Champions League group stage against AC Milan, Aubameyang was omitted from the Chelsea squad for the knockout stages.
With Aubameyang's return, Gabon's national team and its fans will be delighted to have their record-breaking striker back in the fold.
The experienced forward brings a wealth of talent, leadership, and a proven goal-scoring ability, which could prove crucial in Gabon's quest for success in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
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