Andre Onana, the goalie for Manchester United, talked a lot to Canal Plus after not being able to play in Cameroon’s first game at AFCON 2024 against Guinea.

Onana had to travel more than 5,000 miles in less than 24 hours after playing for Manchester United in the 21st round of the Premier League in a 2-2 tie against Tottenham Hotspur. He had to get to Cameroon in time for the first match against Guinea. AFC 2024’s first game in Group C.

But Onana couldn’t get to the Cameroon team’s hotel until three hours before the game because of bad weather. Head coach Rigobert Song didn’t want the 27-year-old goalie to play, so Fabrice Ondoa took his place. Guinea held Song’s army to a 1-1 tie in the end. 

Having traveled a long and tiring way but not being able to play in Cameroon’s first game, Onana has good reason to be upset.

Onana told Canal Plus, “I have a lot to sаy, but I will keep it a sеcrеt because the tournament is still going on.” I do everything for my country all the time. It can be hard to decide whether to play for Man United or Cameroon, like picking between my parents. But I promise to always put my country’s needs first, that’s why I’m here. 

Onana tried hard to make the Cameroon team for their first game at AFCON 2024, but he was not able to. 

Before, on social networks, a picture of former Senegal star El Hadji Diouf had to cheer Onana up when the goalie, who was born in 1996, found out that coach Song had not registered him to play against Guinea. 

Song and Samuel Eto’o, head of the Cameroon Football Federation, and Onana had a figҺt at the 2022 World Cup. Because of this, the head coach took the former Inter Milan star off the team and told him to leave Qatar right away. 

Because of Coach Song’s choice, Onana said he would stop playing football for his country, but he changed his mind and will now play for Cameroon at AFCON 2024.