Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has admitted that he has “a lot to say” after being left out of the Cameroon squad for the Africa Cup of Nations clash against Guinea on Monday.
The goalkeeper faced significant criticism for choosing to delay his arrival at the tournament, opting to stay with Manchester United for the 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur and missing Cameroon’s opening match against Zambia.
Onana encountered flight troubles but eventually arrived for the Guinea game, only to discover that he had been excluded from the squad. Reports suggest that the United goalkeeper was furious about the decision.
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In response to the controversy surrounding both his delayed arrival and omission from the squad, Onana stated, “I have a lot to say, but I won’t say it here because we are in competition. The most important thing is sacred union. We are here to win. I ask the supporters to support us in good times and bad. I’m one of the leaders, so I take my responsibilities, and that’s why I’m here. I don’t want people to criticize the youngest. Let people continue to criticize me; I’m used to it. I do what is good for my country. It’s like choosing between my father and my mother, but my country comes first, that’s why I’m here. We’re together.”
Onana emphasized his focus on representing his country and continent, considering it a significant honor. Regarding his playing time, he deferred to the coach’s decision, emphasizing the team’s collective goal of winning the competition.
Cameroon manager Rigobert Song played down Onana’s exclusion, citing the late timing of his arrival as a factor that made his inclusion against Guinea impractical. Song stated, “Andre, we all knew that [he wouldn’t play]. We need to stick to our logic. He arrived at 4 am, how do you expect him to play at 5 pm? He’s part of the group; he joined us at 4 am, so he’s part of the squad. There’s the rest of the competition, and I’m sticking with my full squad.”