Andre Onana in a post-match press conference addressed the issues leading to him missing the first fixture for Cameroon which was played on Monday, January 15, 2024, at AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast.
The Manchester United number one had arrived in the training camp for Cameroon in the early hours of the day of the fixture and as such the head coach of the Indomitable Lions had decided to start him from the bench in the fixture.
Andre Onana in the post-match interview revealed that there was much to be said but this is a tournament and there was no need to bring things like that up to destabilize the entire team and if the insults keep coming his way he has no issues dealing with it and would always take the blame regardless.
He stated, “I have a lot of things to say but I won’t say it here because we are in competition. The most important thing is sacred union. We are here to win the CAN. I ask the supporters to support us in good times and bad. I am one of the leaders so I take my responsibilities and that is why I am here. I don’t want people to criticize the youngest. Let people continue to criticize me, I’m used to it, I do what is good for my country. It’s like choosing between my father and my mother, but my country comes first, that’s why I’m here. We’re together. At the moment, it’s difficult because when you wear the Cameroon outfit, your intention is to win. Cameroon cannot afford to play a draw. We are disappointed but that’s football. Everything is temporary. I am very proud to be here to represent my country, my continent. It is an honor.”
🔴 André Onana : « J’ai beaucoup de choses à dire mais je ne le dirai pas ici car nous sommes en compétition. Le plus important, c’est l’union sacrée. On est ici pour gagner la CAN. Je demande aux supporters de nous soutenir dans les bons et mauvais moments […] Je fais partie… pic.twitter.com/UekekXYweW
— AllezLesLions (@AllezLesLions) January 15, 2024
Who was the goalkeeper for the Indomitable Lions in the AFCON 2023 fixture Cameroon vs Guinea?
It has been revealed that Andre Onana’s cousin Fabrice Ondoa, had been selected as the first choice for Cameroon by the head coach in the country’s 1-1 draw with Guinea in their opening fixture of AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast.
Onana and Song clash over team selection for first AFCON 2023 game
Reports now indicate that there might be tension between the first-choice goalkeeper of Cameroon Andre Onana and the team’s head coach Rigobert Song.
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon played a 1-1 draw with Guinea in the country’s first AFCON 2023 game but the focal point of the evening was identified as Andre Onana allegedly being upset for not being selected in the starting lineup for the country by the head coach Rigobert Song.
Onana did not join the national team till late in the afternoon today, Monday, January 15, 2024, after taking a private plane from England following his appearance in Manchester United’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
Reports indicate that it took efforts from the Senegalese football legend El Hadji Diouf to calm Manchester United’s number one down.
Concerns had initially been raised as to if Onana will be available for Cameroon’s first game of the tournament when it was revealed he will remain at Man United for two more games before reporting to the camp.
Why didn’t Andre Onana start for Cameroon at AFCON 2023?
When asked in the post-match press conference why Andre Onana did not start for Cameroon in their opening fixture of AFCON 2023, Head coach, Rigobert Song, revealed that Manchester United’s number one had only arrived on the morning of the fixture.
This means Onana had not had the opportunity of training with the team before the fixture which was played at 5 pm WAT today.
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