Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has been told he "did not respect Cameroon" after arriving late to their 2023 AFCON campaign.
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Article continues below
Article continues below
- Onana misses AFCON opener
- Played for Man Utd 23 hours before
- Told he disrespected his country
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The 27-year-old attempted a miraculous turnaround just 23 hours after starring in United's 2-2 draw with Tottenham, only to see his private jet delayed. This meant he had to settle for a spot on the substitutes bench as his side opened their AFCON campaign with a 1-1 draw. Onana's absence has drawn criticism from former Arsenal and Cameroon striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who feels it illustrates a wider problem within his country's federation.
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WHAT ADEBAYOR SAID
Speaking to Sport News Africa (via ), the ex-forward claimed: "He [Onana] did not respect Cameroon. I was a player like him, and even being the most important player in my selection, I never acted in this way [arriving on the day of the match]. The fact that this situation is happening shows that there is a problem, perhaps even within the federation. He risks losing big, because he has alienated the Cameroonian supporters, as well as many African supporters and undoubtedly certain members of the team."
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Onana's decision to prioritise club football over his national side is just the latest in a series of rifts with Cameroon. He famously left their World Cup camp in Qatar over disputes with manager Rigobert Song's style of play, leading him to declare himself retired internationally in December – before U-turning on that decision nine months later.
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WHAT NEXT FOR ONANA?
In any case, such off-field noise will be the worst possible preparations for Song's side as they gear up to face holders Senegal on Friday, who kicked of their defence of the title with a win against Gambia. As for Onana, it remains to be seen whether he faces any lasting punishment over his conduct, or if he will be deemed suitable to replace Fabrice Ondoa between the sticks.
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