SUMMARY
- Onana retired from international soccer after the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
- Onana's struggle with Manchester United has been widely documented.
Andre Onana is under the spotlight again for his national side during the ongoing AFCON 2024. The relationship between Manchester United’s goalkeeper and the President of the Cameroon Soccer Association is the topic of discussion.
As per Daily Mail, The feud between Andre Onana and Cameroon FA president Samuel Eto’o is still ongoing. The duo hasn’t spoken to each other since the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The feud was the major issue back in 2022 which forced Onana to retire from international soccer.
During the World Cup, Onana was removed from Cameroon’s World Cup squad after being dropped by manager, Rigobert Song for disciplinary reasons. The goalkeeper started the first match for Cameroon against Switzerland but was dropped for the next two fixtures in the group stage.
🔴📰 | The feud between Andre Onana and Cameroon FA president Samuel Eto’o is still ongoing.
It is said that they haven’t spoken since the World Cup, and that their relationship is broken and irreconcilable. [@ChrisWheelerDM] pic.twitter.com/HIEDFbEahM
— UtdDistrict (@UtdDistrict) January 21, 2024
At the time, it was reported that Song wanted a more traditional goalkeeper instead of Onana, which led to the fallout between the two. However, more reports came out that the fallout started due to a feud with Eto’o. The incident prompted Onana to take retirement from international soccer in 2023.
Andre Onana came back from retirement in September 2023
The retirement didn’t last for long, as the goalkeeper made a U-turn on his earlier decision to join the national side for the AFCON qualifier against Burundi on September 12, 2023. The tie was a must-win match for the African nation. Onana helped his national side to win the tie and qualify for the AFCON 2024 in the Ivory Coast.
🇨🇲❤️ pic.twitter.com/WNifNkzoYR
— Andre Onana (@AndreyOnana) September 4, 2023
Onana tweeted a picture at the time to announce his return. He stated in that statement he chose to remain true to his ideals in the face of manipulation, lies, and abuse of power. The comments were taken as a slight jab at Samuel Eto’o and his actions against the former Inter Milan goalkeeper.
Cameroon is on the brink of elimination in AFCON 2024
Onana‘s return to the national side was celebrated by the fans at the time. However, those celebrations have been short-lived due to the recent form of the goalkeeper. Onana’s struggle with his club has been widely documented. However, the poor form has continued with the national side during the AFCON 2024.
Highlights: Senegal 3-1 Cameroon.
Goals from Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diallo and Sadio Mane sent Senegal into the last 16 of the AFCON.
Andre Onana with another match to forget.
🎥: @SABC_Sport pic.twitter.com/A8rpNbKotr
— ⚽⚽⚽ (@ElijahKyama_) January 19, 2024
Onana was guilty of another error during their match against Senegal, which confirmed their loss to the defending champions. Cameroon is now on the brink of elimination from the tournament with only one point in two games. The African side needs a win against the Gambia in the final group-stage match and needs Senegal to beat Guinea to stand any chance of qualification to the knockout rounds of the tournament.