Cameroon Face Issue with André Onana
Cameroon secured a last-minute spot in the AFCON Round of 16 with their dramatic victory against Gambia, placing them second in their group. They achieved this without André Onana, who was on the bench, a decision that angered the Manchester United goalkeeper.
The goalkeeper was not pleased to remain on the bench in the crucial game for his team, and, as reported by Sport News Africa, he made it known to the President of the Cameroon Football Federation, Samuel Eto'o, with whom, incidentally, he does not maintain a good relationship.
The same information assures that when Onana learned that he would be on the bench in the game that could have eliminated his team from the tournament, he had a confrontation with Eto'o, asking him to intervene. The Cameroonian leader did not respond and turned away to avoid further issues.
After that, the goalkeeper calmed down and joined the substitutes' bench, from where he witnessed his team's victory, celebrating on the field like one of the team.
Why was Onana a substitute?
The participation of the Manchester United goalkeeper in the tournament did not start well, as he decided to delay his arrival at the camp until the last moment due to a match with the Red Devils.
He was a substitute in the first game and a starter in the second, where he conceded three goals and had a forgettable performance. Rigobert Song decided to keep him on the bench for the third game and trust Fabrice Ondoa, the goalkeeper from Nîmes in the French Third Division, who ended up being Cameroon's hero.
The problem is now present for the coach, who must decide whether to continue trusting Ondoa for the Round of 16 after his good performance or restore Onana to the starting lineup to avoid a new conflict with the Manchester United goalkeeper.