🇬🇦GabonCentral Africa
President Oligui Nguema announces Alain Giresse's return to Gabon's national football team
via Gabon Review4 min read
During his official visit to France, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema announced on July 21, 2026, in Paris, the return of Alain Giresse to the technical staff of the Gabonese national football team, the Panthères. Giresse, who previously coached Gabon to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, is expected to assume the role of national technical director. The announcement was made during a gala dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace on July 22, 2026. President Oligui Nguema paid tribute to several French football figures before confirming the 72-year-old technician's return, stating, "I announce to everyone that Alain Giresse, present here, will join the staff of the Gabonese national football team." He justified this choice by highlighting Giresse's experience during his previous tenure, adding, "We need you and I know what you brought to our national team at the time." Alain Giresse served as Gabon's coach from 2006 to 2010, leading the Panthères to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations finals and overseeing a significant rebuilding of the team with the integration of young talents. As national technical director, Giresse is expected to work alongside Sébastien Migné, the recently appointed coach of the Panthères by the Gabonese Football Federation, to enhance the team's performance.
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