Onana was angry after rushing to attend CAN only to be left out of the first match.
Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana has now gathered with the national team to attend the African Championship (CAN). He decided to ask the Cameroon Football Federation for permission to gather late to catch Manchester United’s important match against Tottenham (2-2 draw), then took a special plane to Ivory Coast to be present for the team’s first match.
However, head coach Rigobert Song decided not to use Onana in this match, he used reserve goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa in goal and Onana was not on the reserve list. Ondoa is just a goalkeeper in the French Third Division but did not play too bad in Cameroon’s opening match against Guinea. Cameroon’s goal came after Ondoa had previously blocked a shot but his teammates could not clear the ball. .
The quick flight back but not being registered made Onana angry and according to the local press, this goalkeeper intended to cause trouble with coach Song but was told by former famous player El Hadji Diouf – who is famous for bringing Senegal through the World Cup group stage. Cup 2002 – advised to exercise restraint. An online video shows Diouf giving advice to Onana to calm down after the MU goalkeeper was upset about not being registered.
It is known that Onana’s hasty flight to Ivory Coast had to be diverted midway due to fog. The plane carrying Onana could not land at the place where the Cameroon national team gathered but had to land in Abidjan before being picked up and transported to the team headquarters. recruited over a distance of 150 miles (more than 240km). Onana finally arrived at the stadium just three hours before the match.
It seems that Onana’s discomfort came from the fact that he was not registered to play, that he knew Ondoa would start before leaving England, but coach Song initially said Onana would be on the registration list. then completely write him off before the match. Coach Song also didn’t say anything to Onana after he arrived.
Coach Song said in the post-match press conference that he had a reason not to rush to use Onana in the first match. “Andre came here at 4am, how do you think he will play? I want Andre to be ready in the best conditions, he is an important member of the team,” he said.
There was a conflict between Onana and Coach Song and Onana was kicked out of the Cameroon team during the 2022 World Cup. Although their relationship was somewhat repaired leading to Onana’s decision to return to the national team in early fall 2023, Cameroon Football Federation president Samuel Eto’o did not hide his disdain for Onana. Up to now, when they meet each other, they almost ignore each other, and it seems that coach Song is put in a difficult position because his current position is due to Eto’o.
