The Cameroonian goalkeeper, André Onana, has indeed arrived in Ivory Coast this Monday morning to participate in the AFCON 2023 with the Indomitable Lions. Arriving in Abidjan via a special flight from Liverpool, a few hours after the match between Manchester United and Tottenham, the 27-year-old goalkeeper is stuck in the Ivorian capital while he is expected to arrive quickly in Yamoussoukro.
André Onana keeps his word. After negotiating an agreement with FECAFOOT to play matches for his club Manchester United until the eve of Cameroon’s first match against Guinea-Bissau in this AFCON 2023, the former Inter Milan goalkeeper is in Ivorian territory. As expected, he jumped on the special flight prepared to bring him to Ivory Coast, where the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations is taking place. A true star of the team, Onana has not yet joined the den of the Indomitable Lions, who play their first match at 5:00 PM UTC.
Bad weather in Yamoussoukro
Indeed, according to information, bad weather is playing a bad trick on the Cameroonian goalkeeper. While Rigobert Song is eagerly awaiting his goalkeeper, whom he unloaded in the pre-match press conference this Sunday, André Onana will have to wait before joining the den. The flight of the Cameroonian goalkeeper is currently blocked in Abidjan due to bad weather conditions at the Yamoussoukro airport, as supported by C Foot.
Will he be able to join the Cameroonian troop in time for the decisive meeting against Guinea Conakry? This is the big question, knowing that time is precious in the context of the Indomitable Lions. After agreeing to implement the surprising scheme that raised eyebrows with André Onana so that he could play two matches within 24 hours with United and Cameroon, they will have to take responsibility if there is disappointment. The AFCON 2023 remains a very serious competition where everything moves quickly, as observed with Mozambique and Egypt, or even Ghana and Cape Verde this Sunday.
The stakes of FECAFOOT’s choices
It is unknown whether the concentration will be maximum with André Onana when entering the base camp of the Indomitable Lions to possibly take his place as a starter against Guinea this Monday. In any case, it seems that Rigobert Song and FECAFOOT have matured their ideas well. In any case, Cameroon can count on Fabrice Ondoa to guard the posts during this first outing of Cameroon in AFCON 2023 if things do not go as planned with the Manchester United goalkeeper.
Placed in Group C of this competition, Cameroon will face Senegal, Gambia after their first match this Monday against the National Syli of Guinea with a certain Naby Keita and Serhou Guirassy. In a group of death, the Indomitable Lions will have to show great seriousness to pass the group stage. When considering that it would be difficult to see the Senegalese team, the reigning champion, being surprised in this group, they will have to negotiate the second place in the group with the Guineans.
Gambia, the underdog of the group, plans to create a surprise by capitalizing on the psychological aspect of their very eventful preparation and their plane problem that almost turned into a drama. In any case, let’s hope that the weather will quickly be kind on the side of Yamoussoukro so that André Onana can rejoin his teammates. The rest of the story will depend on Rigobert Song, who will choose who will be lined up this Monday against Guinea in any case. In any case, the Indomitable Lions are watched, and Onana’s performances will be scrutinized. Beware of a poor performance!
What do you think of Onana’s situation with the Indomitable Lions for this AFCON 2023?
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