Manchester United’s Andre Onana requests delay on AFCON call،
Andre Onana is in talks with the Cameroon FA to try to delay his release for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a source has told ESPN.
The Manchester United goalkeeper has been named in the Cameroon squad ahead of the tournament which begins in Ivory Coast on January 13.
Onana, a £43 million summer signing from Internazionale, has indicated he will take part but, according to a source, wants to limit his time away from Old Trafford as much as possible.
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Cameroon is expected to hold a preparation camp in Saudi Arabia, where it will play a friendly match against Zambia on January 9.
However, Onana is keen to make himself available for United's FA Cup third round tie against Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium on January 8. Cameroon will begin its CAN campaign against Guinea on January 15.
The round of 16 begins on January 27 and the final is scheduled for February 11. United play a Premier League match against Tottenham on January 14 and a possible FA Cup fourth round tie on January 27 and 28 before Premier League matches against Wolves. on February 1, West Ham United on February 4 and Aston Villa on February 11.
Onana retired internationally during the World Cup in Qatar before returning in September. Once he joins Rigobert Song's squad for the AFCON, Erik ten Hag will have to make a first-team debut for second-choice goalkeeper Altay Bayindir. The 25-year-old has not played for United since his summer move from Fenerbahce, but featured for Turkey during the last international break.
Ten Hag also has Tom Heaton, 37, on its team.
Song dropped Bayern Munich striker Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting, who made his debut for the Indomitable Lions at the 2010 World Cup but paid the price for missing Cameroon's last three outings.
“Choupo Moting is a very good player. But my staff and I want the continuity of recent times. He is an important player, but we had to make a choice in line with what we have been doing for some time now”, Song said. a press conference as he named his 27-man squad.
Cameroon will be without Brentford striker Bryan Mbeumo, who underwent surgery on his right ankle earlier this month.
Song surprised with the selection of Wilfried Nathan Doualla, 17, who plays in the Cameroonian championship and has never been called up before.
This will be a fifth participation in the Nations Cup for captain Vincent Aboubakar.
After its opening match of Group C against Guinea, Cameroon will face Senegal, defending champion, then Gambia.
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Devis Epassy (Abha Club), Simon Ngapandouetnbu (Olympique de Marseille), Andre Onana (Manchester United), Fabrice Ondoa (Nîmes)
Defenders: Malcom Bokele (Girondins Bordeaux), Jean-Charles Castelletto (Nantes), Oumar Gonzalez (Al Raed), Harold Moukoudi (AEK Athens), Tolo Nouhou (Seattle Sounders), Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City), Enzo Tchato (Montpellier), Christopher Wooh (Stade Rennais), Darling Yongwa (Lorient)
Midfielder: Wilfried Nathan Doualla (Victoria United), Ben Elliott (Reading), Olivier Kemen (Kayserispor), Yvan Neyou (Leganes), Olivier Ntcham (Samsunspor), Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Napoli)
Attackers: Vincent Aboubakar (Besiktas), Leonel Ateba (Dynamo Douala), Frank Magri (Toulouse), Faris Pemi Moumbagna (Bodo/Glimt), François-Régis Mughe (Olympique de Marseille), Clinton Njie (Sivasspor), Georges-Kevin Nkoudou ( Damac), Karl Toko Ekambi (Abha Club). (Written by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town)
Information from Reuters was used in this story.
