MIRROR
Andre Onana might have lost his place in Cameroon ‘s starting XI, but he made clear his desire for the Indomitable Lions to kick on in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Manchester United goalkeeper Onana started his team’s first two group games as they earned just one point from matches against Senegal and Guinea. There was no place for him against Gambia, though, with Cameroon needing three points to guarantee their progress.
Onana hasn’t always seen eye to eye with Cameroon boss Rigobert Song, and the keeper announced his international retirement after the 2022 World Cup amid a falling-out with the former Liverpool defender. He reversed that decision in the lead-up to AFCON, but performances in the opening two games weren’t the best.
The first group game ended all square against Guinea, who played the entire second half with 10 men. Onana’s performance was questioned after the second game, with holders Senegal claiming a 3-1 victory, but Song didn’t go down the path of public criticism.
“I’m not going to blame anyone, I’m going to take responsibility,” Song said, “My players fought. We must recognise that Senegal were better than us. The next match we will win and qualify for the next round.”
Initially, it looked as though Song’s decision to ring the changes might lead to a comfortable win. If this tournament has taught us anything, though, it’s that no team can rest on their laurels.
After a goalless first half, Karl Toko Ekambi struck just before the hour mark to put Cameroon in front. Gambia needed a win to have any hope of progressing, though, and turned things around through Ablie Jallow and Ebrima Colley.
It wasn’t over, though, with James Gomez’s own goal levelling things up before Christopher Wooh headed Cameroon through in stoppage time. There was still time for a late scare, though, until it became clear that Muhammed Sanneh had flicked the ball into Cameroon’s net with his hand.
