Arriving at the den of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon for the AFCON 2023 this Monday, André Onana did not play against Guinea Conakry. After his team’s challenging encounter, the Manchester United goalkeeper spoke to the press.
Cameroon is causing a lot of buzz in the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations. In the group of death alongside Senegal’s Lions of Teranga, Gambia, and Guinea Conakry, the Cameroonians are capturing attention. With discussions already underway before the start of the 2023 AFCON, amid controversies related to the coach and players selected for the competition, Cameroon didn’t kick off the competition well this Monday against Guinea. At the center of discussions before this match, André Onana, the team’s number 1 goalkeeper, opened up.
Onana’s explosive situation in the selection
Having missed his team’s preparation to play with his club Manchester United in England, André Onana finally rejoined the Indomitable Lions a few hours before the match against Guinea. Directly boarding a plane after the United and Tottenham match on Sunday, the former Inter Milan goalkeeper arrived in Abidjan early in the morning. While he was supposed to land directly in Yamoussoukro, where the Cameroonians play in Group C, he couldn’t due to the weather at the local airport.
After numerous adventures, the star of the Indomitable Lions joined Rigobert Song’s group for the AFCON 2023. Although he was expected to be in goal as announced in the agreement between him and FECAFOOT that allowed him to stay at Manchester United until the eve of Cameroon’s first match, André Onana did not play. While his teammates stepped onto the Yamoussoukro pitch to face Guinea, the 27-year-old goalkeeper was seen in the stadium tunnels in a discussion with Senegalese legend El Hadji Diouf.
Onana’s epic response
According to some rumors, Rigobert Song may not have spoken a single word to the Manchester United goalkeeper upon his arrival. Realizing that he would not play, Onana was reportedly upset. Diouf’s intervention was to calm him down. Amidst these lively rumors, the goalkeeper, who previously played for Ajax in Amsterdam, spoke after Cameroon’s mixed match. Speaking to New Word TV, André Onana hinted at an upcoming explosive revelation.
“I have a lot to say, but I won’t say it here because we are in a competition. The most important thing is unity. We are here to win the AFCON. I ask the fans to support us in good and bad times […] I am one of the leaders, so I take my responsibilities, and that’s why I’m here. I don’t want criticism of the younger ones. Keep criticizing me; I’m used to it. I do what is right for my country. It’s like choosing between my father and mother, but my country comes first, that’s why I’m here. We are together,” said the Cameroonian goalkeeper.
Onana disappointed with the result against Guinea
Discussing his teammates’ performance on the pitch against Guinea, which remains one of the challenging teams in AFCON 2023, he did not hide his disappointment. “Right now, it’s tough because when you wear the Cameroon jersey, your intention is to win. Cameroon cannot afford to draw. We are disappointed, but it’s football. Everything is temporary […] I am very proud to be here to represent my country, my continent. It’s an honor,” Onana continued.
In any case, the Indomitable Lions are being closely watched. Knowing that the next match will be against Senegal, which did not hold back against Gambia in its first match, things could get heated in case of a bad result for Cameroon. Will André Onana be in goal for this match? Probably… We’ll have to wait and see.
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