MIRROR
Struggling Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has been dropped to the bench by Cameroon for their crucial Africa Cup of Nations clash with Gambia this evening.
Nimes goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa has been given the nod in a must-win game for Rigobert Song’s team. Onana, 27, missed Cameroon’s opening game of the tournament after controversially deciding to remain with United for the Red Devils’ 2-2 draw at home to Tottenham on Sunday, January 14.
United’s £47million signing then failed to save a single shot on his first start last Friday, as his nation lost 3-1 to Senegal and saw their hopes of reaching the knockout stages suffer a damaging blow. That gives Onana the worst save percentage of any goalkeeper at AFCON: zero.
His display was reflective of his United career so far, having been at fault for a slew of goals since leaving Inter Milan in July. The Champions League finalist has never been dropped by United manager Erik ten Hag, though, having worked together at Ajax. In fact, backup goalkeeper Altay Bayindir is yet to make an appearance this term.
Onana’s international career hasn’t gone much smoother. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Cameroon boss Song left the former Barcelona academy prospect out of his matchday squad for their 3-3 draw with Serbia, citing “disciplinary reasons.”
Shortly after, Onana announced his retirement from international football. That was following a disagreement with Samuel Eto’o, who’s now president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot). The 27-year-old and Eto’o’s relationship is reportedly still strained.
Onana had hoped to start Cameroon’s opening game against Guinea by flying from Manchester after the Tottenham match, as kick-off in the Ivory Coast – where AFCON is being held – was just over 24 hours later. However, weather conditions forced him to change his plans and instead fly to Abidjan rather than Yamoussoukro, and he wasn’t included in Song’s squad.
