Man United GK Onana axed by Cameroon for crucial AFCON match

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has been left out of Cameroon's starting line-up for the Africa Cup of Nations Group C decider against Gambia in Bouaké on Tuesday.

Onana missed his side's first group game – a 1-1 draw with Guinea last Monday – after being given special dispensation to play in United's 2-2 Premier League draw against Tottenham on January 14 .

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He ultimately arrived even later than expected, missing the match, after being stuck at Abidjan airport due to bad weather.

The 27-year-old returned to the starting XI for Cameroon's second match but was at fault for two of Senegal's goals in an error-strewn display as the five-time champions lost 3-1.

Reports in the Cameroonian media before the match that the former Ajax goalkeeper was going to be dropped by head coach Rigobert Song finally came to fruition when Fabrice Ondoa – Onana's cousin – was named starting goalkeeper from the country.

Nîmes' Ondoa, a Nations Cup winner with Cameroon in 2017, started for Cameroon in Onana's absence as he was held back by Guinea in their first group match in Yamoussoukro.

Cameroon, despite having only gained one point from their first two matches, can still qualify for the round of 16 with their victory over Gambia on Wednesday. Failure to progress would mean a first group stage elimination since 2015.

Onana's omission from such a crucial match is the latest chapter in his troubled international career.

He opted not to represent Cameroon at the 2017 AFCON to focus on his club career – ultimately failing to win a winner's medal – and was sidelined by Song at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar due to a disagreement over the adventures of the goalkeeper. the style of play.

Following a disagreement with FA President Samuel Eto'o in 2023, Onana retired from international football, before returning to the fold in December.