Andre Onana, Cameroon’s goalkeeper, decided to miss the national team’s opening match at AFCON to focus on playing Man Utd’s match against Tottenham this Sunday.
A week ago, there were rumors that Onana was negotiating with the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) about a defender joining the national team late to attend AFCON 2024.
Accordingly, the 27-year-old goalkeeper will postpone his reunion to play the match between Man Utd and Tottenham on January 14 before quickly returning to Ivory Coast to be present in Cameroon’s first match in Vietnam. AFCON 2024, taking place on January 15.
According to many sources, FECAFOOT has granted Onana permission to postpone his participation in Cameroon’s match because the important thing here is that the 27-year-old goalkeeper’s priority goal is to focus on Man Utd.
Andre Onana is at risk of losing his starting position to goalkeeper Altay Bayindir when he returns for AFCON and Cameroon’s decision to miss their first match could help him maintain his place in the Man United squad.
With this decision, Onana will not miss any Man Utd matches if Cameroon is eliminated from the group stage. The Cameroon team will have three matches in January, namely the 16th (against Guinea), 20th (against Senegal) and 24th (against Gambia).
Meanwhile, Man Utd will continue to participate in the FA Cup on January 27, after facing Tottenham on January 15.
Thus, if Cameroon team ends AFCON 2024 in the group stage soon, Onana can completely play for both, but there is a high possibility that this team will reach the next round and the possibility of going deep is quite high when Cameroon is considered one of the top candidates at AFCON 2024.
And if Cameroon reaches the final on February 12, Onana may have to miss up to 4 Man Utd matches. The match where this 27-year-old goalkeeper will certainly return to the Red Devils’ goal will be against Luton Town on February 18 in the Premier League.