Manchester United goalkeeper, Andre Onana, was reportedly left fuming after being excluded from Cameroon's 1-1 draw with Guinea in their opening match of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 on Monday, January 15. Despite making a significant effort to join his team in time for the game, Onana was not included in the matchday squad by coach Rigobert Song.
Onana made an impressive 5000-mile dash from England to Cote d'Ivoire’s capital city, Yamoussoukro. He embarked on this journey immediately after Manchester United’s Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur just a day earlier. Despite facing inclement weather conditions that delayed his arrival, he managed to reach three hours before his team's opener.
Rigobert Song and Onana reportedly exchanged heated words
Despite his efforts and timely arrival, Onana was left out of the matchday squad by coach Rigobert Song. This decision reportedly incensed the Manchester United goalkeeper who expressed his frustration towards the Cameroon coaching team.
Former Liverpool player El Hadji Diouf had to intervene and calm down an irate Onana.
Manchester United goalkeeper, Andre Onana, said:
“If I wasn't going to play or make the team, then why did I come here on a private jet?”
Fabrice Ondoa took up goalkeeping duties for Cameroon during this game while Devis Epassy and Simon Ngapandouetnbu were chosen as substitutes.
Onana's shock retirement in 2022 was also due to Song
It is important to note that there has been a history of tension between Onana and Coach Song which could have influenced this decision. Their relationship hit rock bottom when Onana was infamously sent home from the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
Despite these issues, at age 27, he came out of international retirement specifically for AFCON participation. However, it remains uncertain whether he will be featured in the Senegal match on Friday, January 19.
The exclusion of Andre Onana from the AFCON opener has sparked controversy and raised questions about his future with the Cameroon national team. As sports fans and betting enthusiasts watch closely, it will be interesting to see how this situation unfolds in the upcoming games.
