Gabon has launched an ambitious drive to overhaul its domestic football structure, bringing together key stakeholders for five days of consultations aimed at building a better-organised, financially sustainable and more competitive national league.

The initiative, known as Task Foot, is scheduled to open on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at the Stade de l’Amitié sino-gabonaise in Angondjé, with Sports Minister Paul Ulrich Kessany Zategwa leading the opening proceedings.

The exercise seeks to translate Gabon’s established presence in African football into a stronger domestic competition, supported by improved governance, professional club management, youth development and more reliable league administration.

Despite having hosted the Africa Cup of Nations twice and producing African Footballer of the Year Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gabon is seeking to strengthen the domestic foundations of a sport that continues to enjoy considerable public interest and produce players recognised across Africa and Europe.

The five-day consultations will bring together government officials, football administrators, clubs, coaches, referees, players, journalists and national and international experts to develop a framework for the renewal of the game.

The initiative is being pursued in line with directives from Gabon’s President, who also serves as Head of State and Head of Government, with the stated objective of establishing an organisational structure capable of supporting football development from provincial levels to the professional leagues.

Seven workshops to drive reforms

Task Foot will address seven key areas: governance and institutional organisation; training and human development; national competitions; communication and marketing; financing and the competition model; refereeing and competition integrity; and sports infrastructure.

The discussions are expected to examine the structural challenges affecting Gabonese football and identify practical measures to improve the administration and commercial appeal of domestic competitions.

Participants will include representatives of the National Professional Football League (LINAFP), the National Women’s Football League, the Gabonese Football Federation (FEGAFOOT), the National Olympic Committee and the National Anti-Doping Organisation (ONAD), alongside club presidents and other football stakeholders.

The involvement of the different groups is intended to ensure that the proposed reforms reflect the needs of the wider football community rather than being confined to the professional game.

A key feature of the opening ceremony will be the presentation of technical approvals and final registration certificates to clubs participating in the professional leagues. The exercise is intended to mark the beginning of a more consistent and better-organised domestic competition.

Focus on professionalism and sustainability

At the heart of the initiative is the ambition to establish a league in which fixtures are played according to a reliable calendar, clubs are managed more professionally and competitions are supported by stronger financial and administrative structures.

Communication and marketing will also feature prominently, reflecting the need to improve the visibility of Gabonese football and make the domestic league more attractive to sponsors, commercial partners and supporters.

The planned reforms also place emphasis on women’s football and the development of young players, recognising their importance to the long-term growth of the sport.

Infrastructure, refereeing standards and the integrity of competitions are among the other priorities, with the consultations expected to explore how improvements in these areas could strengthen confidence in domestic football.

For Gabon, the challenge is to convert its football heritage and talent pool into a sustainable domestic system capable of supporting clubs, developing players and providing a stronger platform for the national team, the Panthers.

A regional ambition

Gabon’s ambition extends beyond its own borders, with the country seeking to make the reform programme a model for football development in Central Africa.

The success of Task Foot, however, will ultimately depend on whether the discussions produce concrete decisions that can be implemented, monitored and sustained beyond the five-day gathering.

With governance, financing, competition management and player development all on the agenda, the consultations offer Gabonese football stakeholders an opportunity to address longstanding structural needs and establish a clearer direction for the domestic game.

The intended outcome is a more dependable league, stronger clubs and a competition capable of attracting greater attention at home and abroad.

For a country with two AFCON hosting experiences and a leading individual award winner in its football history, Task Foot represents an attempt to bring the organisation of its domestic game closer to the stature it seeks to maintain on the continental stage.

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