Written by: Mohamed Ragab
The Gabonese Football Federation announced the appointment of French coach Sebastien Migné as the new technical director of the national team, in a move aimed at rebuilding the team and achieving positive results during the qualifiers for the upcoming African Cup of Nations.
Gabon's signing of Migné comes after the coach's successful stint with the Haitian national team, during which he led the team to a historic achievement by qualifying for the 2026 World Cup finals for the first time in more than five decades.
The appointment of Mene represents a new return to African football for him, after he had previously coached a number of national teams on the continent, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Equatorial Guinea. He also worked as an assistant coach for the Cameroon national team during its participation in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
A historic experience with Haiti despite the early exit from the World Cup
Sebastien Migné achieved a remarkable feat with the Haitian national team when he led the team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, bringing the Caribbean nation back to the global tournament after a 52-year absence.
Although Haiti’s journey in the tournament ended in the group stage after losses to Scotland, Brazil and Morocco, leading the team to the World Cup was considered a historic milestone in the history of Haitian football.
The Haitian Football Federation had announced the end of its cooperation with Mini by mutual consent following the World Cup participation, thanking the French coach for his efforts and commitment during his time in charge.
A new challenge with the Gabon national team
Mene faces a new challenge with the Gabonese national team, which is seeking to return to strong competition on the African stage, as the team prepares to play in the qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations, which it will begin with two matches against Morocco and Niger during the month of September.
The Gabonese Football Association is relying on the French coach’s experience in dealing with national teams, especially after his numerous experiences within the continent, hoping to improve performance and achieve results that will help the team regain its position among African teams.
Extensive African experience and new ambitions
Mini has extensive experience in African football, having dealt with different football environments and gained broad knowledge of the competitive style within the continent.
Observers believe that his selection to coach Gabon reflects the local federation's desire to benefit from a coach with international experience and the ability to lead long-term development projects.
Although details of the new coach's contract have not been disclosed, the next stage will be an important test for Meni to translate his previous experience into tangible results with the Gabonese national team, especially in light of the strong competition in the African qualifiers.
