“Why should I bury the hatchet?” Onana’s blunt response on Eto’o

André Onana has finally broken his silence regarding his stormy relationship with the president of Fécafoot, Samuel Eto’o. Is the war over?

The tensions between André Onana and the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot), under the presidency of Samuel Eto’o, are no longer a secret to anyone. Since his exclusion from the 2022 World Cup following a tactical disagreement with Rigobert Song, the Manchester United goalkeeper has had a complicated relationship with the governing body of Cameroonian football and his former mentor. A situation that had pushed him to announce his international retirement, before doing an about-face a few months later.

Despite his return to the Indomitable Lions, the mistrust between Onana and Eto’o has never really disappeared. The former Inter Milan goalkeeper is one of the players who, according to some sources, suffered from the Federation’s interference in sporting choices. Enough to fuel tensions in an already high-pressure climate within the selection.

Onana’s unfiltered exit

Invited by Le Média Carré, André Onana broke his silence and wanted to set the record straight regarding his relationship with Samuel Eto’o. Far from diplomatic speeches, the Manchester United goalkeeper answered bluntly to the question of a possible reconciliation with the president of Fecafoot.

He implies that he was the victim of disinformation within Cameroonian football:

“Honestly, a lot of things have happened. The problem with me is that I don’t talk. And when you don’t talk, we talk for you. There was a lot of manipulation”

Then, asked about a possible “truce” with Eto’o, he retorted firmly:

“Bury the hatchet with Samuel Eto’o? I’ve never been at war. Why should I bury the hatchet if there has never been a war?”

A statement heavy with meaning, which reflects the persistent unease between the two men. If the hatchet has never existed according to Onana, who had already mentioned peace with his president, the climate remains heavy around the Indomitable Lions. It remains to be seen whether the sporting performances will be enough to make us forget these tensions in view of the major competitions to come.