Everything indicates that Andre Onana He will start on Friday in Cameroon’s big African Cup game against reigning champions Senegal. The Manchester United goalkeeper trained today for the first time with the ‘undecided lions’ after he was finally not called up for the debut against Guinea (1-1) on Monday after playing the day before in Old Trafford against Tottenham in a Premier League match (2-2).
Onana flew to Ivory Coast on Sunday night and arrived early in the morning, just hours before the game against Guinea started, so the coach Song of Rigobert I’d rather not line him up. The decision to allow the goalkeeper to miss the tournament’s debut sparked controversy among Cameroonian fans.
Adebayor: “He didn’t respect Cameroon”
Property Emmanuel Adebayor, The former goal scorer from Togo who played among others for Monaco, Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Tottenham, was among the critics.
“He does not respect Cameroon. I am a player like him, and although he is the most important player in my team, I never act like that (coming on the day of the match)”, said Adebayor. “The fact that this situation is happening shows that there is a problem, maybe even within the federation. “He risks losing a lot, because he upset the Cameroonian fans, as well as many African fans and, no doubt, some members of the team.”
“It’s like choosing between my father and my mother”
After arriving in Ivory Coast, Onana spoke to the media on Monday about the difficult balance between his club and his country, especially for African internationals forced to leave their teams mid-season to take part in the Cup. Africa.
“It’s like choosing between my father and my mother, “But my country comes first, that’s why I’m here.” Onana said. “That people keep criticizing me. I’m used to that. I’m doing what’s good for my country,”
Cameroon-Onana, a rocky relationship
Onana has had a checkered history in Cameroon since then debut with the senior team at 20 years old when he was still playing for Ajax.
Eventually rejected the call for the 2017 Africa Cup, that Cameroon won, and in the last World Cup in Qatar 2022 he left the concentration after the first game with coach Rigobert Song.
Onana even announced his retirement as an international player but finally returned to defend his country in September against Burundi to achieve a victory that confirmed their place in the African Cup.
instead, Onana participated in the previous edition of the African Cup, in 2022, a few months after returning from a long suspension for doping.
Forced to react against the champion of Senegal
On Monday, in Cameroon’s debut in this edition with Ivory Coast as hosts, Fabrice Ondoa, Onana’s cousin, He is the one standing under the sticks. A 1-1 draw forces the ‘indomitable lions’ to react on Friday against none other than champions Senegal, who made their debut in group C by beating Gambia (3-0 ). A decisive match where Song should give the Manchester United goalkeeper a start.
Source: La Verdad

I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.