- Onana has been included in the Cameroon squad for the Africa Cup of Nations
- The keeper fell out with the manager and Samuel Eto’o at last year’s World Cup
- Ian Ladyman reveals the most BORING manager he’s dealt with during his career – It’s All Kicking Off
Andre Onana has officially been named in Cameroon’s squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
The struggling Manchester United goalkeeper has made the squad despite his issues with management of the international team over the past year.
He was involved in rows with manager Rigobert Song and the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation Samuel Eto’o, which led to him being kicked out of their squad at the 2022 World Cup.
Onana retired from international football, but came out of it in September and made a shock comeback in the game that secured Cameroon’s qualification for the tournament.
There had still been some doubts over whether he would be called-up, but now that he has, it will mean that he could miss over a month’s worth of action for Manchester United depending on Cameroon’s progress through the tournament.
Andre Onana has been named in the Cameroon squad for the Africa Cup of Nations
It comes a year after he was kicked out of Rigobert Song’s (left) World Cup squad
Onana retired from international football following rows with Song and Samuel Eto’o (pictured)
Onana though returned to action for Cameroon to help them qualify for the AFCON
Onana’s acrimonious exit from his country’s World Cup squad came after they lost their opener to Switzerland, with manager Song asking the keeper not to take so many risks when playing out from the back.
The 27-year-old is renowned for his ability with the ball at his feet, and was a big factor as to why Manchester United signed him from Inter Milan during the summer transfer window – even if he hasn’t always showcased this ability to his best in the opening few months of his time at Old Trafford.
In the game against Switzerland, he made World Cup history by having more touches outside his box than any goalkeeper since records began in 1966. He disagreed with Song and a heated row ended with him being dropped for the second game against Serbia.
Eto’o ordered that Onana shouldn’t even travel with the squad and remain at Cameroon’s hotel in Doha, to which Song agreed.
Despite it being understood that Onana and Song felt there was a way back before their third game with Brazil, Eto’o intervened and the federation issued a issued a statement saying he had been suspended for disciplinary reasons, and booked him a plane ticket to Paris.
In spite of it all, Onana reversed his decision to quit international football in September and came out of retirement.
He made his comeback in the win over Burundi that secured Cameroon’s qualification for AFCON, then played in games against Senegal and Mauritius, and sat on the bench in Russia.
However, as previously reported by Mail Sport, Onana and Eto’o have not exchanged words in more than a year.
Eto’o is said to resent the fact that Onana has challenged his authority. Song is caught in the middle of their feud, but more likely to side with his old friend and federation president.
