Manchester United and Cameroon International goalkeeper Andre Onana missed his country’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 1-1 draw opener against Guinea on January 15, 2024.
In a twist of fate, the United shot-stopper found himself sidelined from his national team’s opener.
It all began after Onana’s spirited performance in a 2-2 premier league draw against Tottenham on Sunday.
The saga was further followed by a hasty departure for Ivory Coast from Manchester to join the AFCON campaign.
As Onana’s jet soared towards Yamoussoukro, the stage for Cameroon’s opening match, it encountered an unexpected challenge.
The Athletic reported that poor weather caused by dense fog forced his flight to take a detour and land in Abidjan, leaving the goalkeeper’s travel plans in disarray.
Undeterred, the shot-stopper further embarked on a three-hour car journey to reach the stadium, determined to contribute to Cameroon’s campaign.
However, despite his valiant effort, Nimes goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa took the reins, and Andre found himself omitted from the starting lineup against Guinea.
Onana’s delayed arrival in Yamoussoukro, orchestrated by unforeseen weather conditions, unfolded as a dramatic sequence.
How Onana missed AFCON match
Manager Rigobert Song, faced with the challenge of reshuffling his lineup, had no choice but to exclude his number one choice from the matchday squad.
As a result, the Indomitable lions were held to a 1-1 draw by Guinea at the Charles Konan Banny in Yamoussoukro.
Cameroon struggled to break down a resilient 10-man opponent, settling for a single point in their Group C debut.
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Notably, Onana’s AFCON misadventure began with a strategic decision made in consultation with Manchester United.
The Cameroonian goalkeeper, eager to retain his position as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, had agreed with the Cameroonian FA to defer his journey back to Africa until January 14.
This agreement would see the keeper contribute to Manchester United’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham and a 2-0 FA Cup third-round win over Wigan.
Furthermore, the decision, bringing out Onana’s dedication to both club and country, was approved by Cameroon FA chief Samuel Eto’o.
Onana’s Past Troubles
The keeper’s journey to the AFCON opener was not just marred by weather as it echoed a troubled history with Cameroon’s coach Rigobert Song.
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Following a fallout during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Onana had announced his retirement from international football.
However, after a nine-month exile, Song recalled him to the squad in September 2023 for the AFCON qualifiers against Burundi.
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Onana’s dedication to the national team has seen him starting in three of Cameroon’s last five games, marking a fragile but ongoing reconciliation with Song.
Amidst Onana’s turbulent career, Manchester United’s coach Erik ten Hag has continued to defend his goalkeeper.
The head coach has further dismissed criticisms and asserted Onana’s stature as one of the Premier League’s best.
Ten Hag, undeterred by the challenges, emphasized the statistical prowess of the 27-year-old, hailing him as the second-best goalkeeper in the league.
“If you analyze it well, then you see he’s the second-best goalkeeper in the Premier League, based on stats,” Ten Hag stated at a past interview.
AFCON 2023
However, there is a possibility that Onana might not miss a single domestic game for United.
This is if Cameroon fails to progress beyond the group stage, providing hope for United in the wake of the AFCON opener setback.
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AFCON is the biennial African association football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The 34th edition sporting extravaganza commenced on January 13 as hosts Ivory Coast beat Guinea Bissau 2-0 in the inaugural match.
Also, defending champions Senegal started their title defense with a comfortable 3-0 win against Gambia in Group C.
Andre Onana will be looking forward to helping his team get back to winning ways as they take on Senegal on January 19 in a fiery Group C clash.
Knockout rounds are further set to commence on January 27, with the grand finale set for February 11 in Abidjan.
