Andre Onana: Manchester United goalkeeper recalled to Cameroon national team

Ayomikun Elemikan Sports 29/08/2023

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has been recalled to the Cameroon national team after a nine-month suspension.

Onana has been named in the Indomitable Lions’ squad for their final Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Manche United goalkeeper Andre Onana was suspended by Cameroon’s football federation midway through the 2022 World Cup in Qatar (Image: Stretty News)

The 27-year-old was signed by United from Inter Milan last month as a replacement for Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea.

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Onana had announced his international retirement following his suspension. He was suspended for “disciplinary reasons”, believed to be the aftermath of a fall-out with Cameroon coach Rigobert Song.

As things stand now, the former Inter Milan player could face Burundi in a winner-takes-all Group C qualifying encounter. The Cameroon-Burundi match is scheduled for September 12, ahead of next year’s African finals.

‘He did the right thing [and that’s why he’s on the list]’ – Coach Rigobert Song

Revealing Onana’s recall, Song said in a news conference: “There were never any problems. I said at the last [news] conference that it was all up to him and he knew what he had to do.

Former Liverpool and West Ham defender Rigobert Song is the head coach of Cameroon’s national team (Image: Sport News Africa)

“If he is on the list, it is because he did the right thing. He is one of the best goalkeepers. The door was always open, it is better to have all these players there than not to have them.

“There were never any problems with Andre and, as I said, he was the only one who knew what he had to do and we are satisfied that he joins the group and we really count on everyone.”

Next year’s AFCON will hold in Ivory Coast between January and February. The tournament, which was originally billed to hold this summer, was moved to early 2024 due to weather concerns.

Manchester United signed Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana from Inter Milan for £47.2m in July (Image: BBC Sport)

Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Patrice Motsepe admitted the timing is “not the ideal time because of the European clubs, but it is the only choice we have”.

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Song started his job as Cameroon coach in March 2022. The country was eliminated at the group stage of last year’s World Cup. They took only a point from their first two games before beating an already qualified Brazil in their final match.

The 2024 Afcon finals will commence on 13 January with the final to hold on 11 February.