Cameroonian goalkeeper André Onana had a very mixed experience at the 2023 AFCON. Arriving on the eve of the Lions Indomptables’ entry into the competition as a star, the Manchester United player exits quietly and, above all, with very poor statistics.
What a disappointment for Onana! A true star of the Lions Indomptables team, the 27-year-old goalkeeper undoubtedly faced one of his worst moments in the national team during the 2023 AFCON. Considered one of the best African goalkeepers at the moment, the Cameroonian international received unprecedented treatment before the competition. Despite his mistakes, André Onana was highly praised by Eric Ten Hag and secured a special agreement with FECAFOOT to play with his club until the day before Cameroon’s competition debut. Arriving just hours before the match against Guinea, he did not play.
Onana’s disappointing AFCON 2023
According to reports, the agreement with the Cameroonian Football Federation was for him to play against Guinea, hence the special flight arranged by Manchester United to reach Yamoussoukro directly. For André Onana, this marked the first dark point of the 2023 AFCON. However, things would worsen for the former Ajax player. Indeed, starting in the second match of the competition against Senegal’s Teranga Lions, the 27-year-old goalkeeper delivered a mixed performance.
Facing three shots on target, Onana conceded all three goals, experiencing his team’s first defeat in this 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations. With no saves made during this match, the Cameroonian goalkeeper became the worst goalkeeper of the 2023 AFCON with a 0% save rate. Although he had the chance to redeem himself in the following match against Gambia, coach Rigobert Song deprived him of this opportunity. Apparently more convinced by Fabrice Ondoa, the manager of the Cameroonian national team benched André Onana, marking another dark point for the player.
Onana leaves United with his head down
After qualifying for the round of 16, things did not improve for the Manchester United player. Once again relegated to the bench against Nigeria, he witnessed his team’s defeat from a distance, thus exiting the 2023 AFCON. From being a star and the best African goalkeeper before the start of the competition, André Onana exits with only one match played out of four and a 0% save rate, a feat no goalkeeper achieved during this Ivorian AFCON. This is a setback for the former Inter Milan stalwart who shone in the previous season with the Italian club.
In assessing Cameroon’s elimination from the competition, the situation for the Nkol Ngok native is far from promising. Now the subject of ridicule, will Onana be able to bounce back upon his return to England? That is the big question. After the first match against Guinea, which he did not play, he promised to settle scores by revealing the whole truth about his situation with the Cameroonian national team.
Future in international selection?
This is another current question. Indispensable before the 2022 World Cup, in which he played a part, André Onana faces complications with the Lions Indomptables, considering the impressive performance of Fabrice Ondoa despite his team’s debacle. Even though it is acknowledged that the entire Cameroonian team fell short during the competition and a thorough clean-up coupled with significant work is needed to get back on track, it is uncertain whether the goalkeepers’ situation will remain unchanged.
Perhaps, in the event of Rigobert Song’s departure, who is holding on for the moment, things could improve for the United goalkeeper. If he does not take a new international retirement by then and returns to his best form at the club, he could reclaim his place. The future appears to be tumultuous for the Cameroonian national team.
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