The Gabonese Football Federation (FEGAFOOT) has severely punished several members of Gabon national team, following their "poor performance” during CHAN 2016 in Rwanda.

Head coach Stéphane Bounguendza was fired along with his entire technical staff, while three players have been banned for life from future selection on the national team.

This comes two weeks after The Panthers were eliminated in the first round of the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament, which ended on Sunday in Rwanda.

The FEGAFOOT evokes the "poor participation” of the Panthers ‘to justify the almost complete dismissal of staff led by Stéphane Bounguendza. The coach and his assistants pay for "very poor performance and unmet goals,” said a statement.

Three players banned for life

But the fate of six players is much more striking. Three of them are written off for life from all future selections "for unworthy and dishonorable behavior, in addition to disrespectfulness”. The trio include; defenders Edmond Mouele and Stevy Nzambe and striker Abdou Djamilou Atchabao.

The FEGAFOOT did not detail the alleged indiscretions that the three banned players are accused of or those attributed to the other three, who have been temporarily suspended.

Striker Dorian Allen Nono and midfielder Vladimir Wils Aworet Ogoula have been sentenced to two-year ban, with one year suspended, "for unbecoming and disgraceful conduct ", while young striker Mario Mandrault has been handed a one-year suspension from the national team. FEGAFOOT to explain

The FEGAFOOT president, Pierre Alain Mounguengui, after taking stock of the team’s performance in Rwanda, is expected to address a news conference on Monday to explain the decision to sack the entire coaching staff and the severe punishment for the players. Gabon, who will host the African Cup of Nations 2017, were in Group A along with Ivory Coast, Morocco and hosts Rwanda — they finished bottom of the group with just a point after losing to both Rwanda and Ivory Coast and drawing with Morocco.