Goalkeeper Andre Onana is set to join Cameroon’s starting lineup for the Africa Cup of Nations group game against Senegal on Friday. This comes after he returned to training with the team on Wednesday.
Onana missed Cameroon’s first match of the tournament in the Ivory Coast as he was allowed to stay at Manchester United and play in their 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
After the match at Old Trafford, he flew by charter plane overnight to the Ivory Coast. However, he only arrived hours before the Group C clash against Guinea, where Cameroon came from behind to force a 1-1 draw.
The decision to allow Onana to miss the opening match sparked controversy among Cameroon supporters.
In an interview after arriving in the Ivory Coast, Onana spoke of the difficult decision faced by African internationals who have to leave their European clubs mid-season to compete at the Cup of Nations.
“It’s like choosing between my father and my mother, but my country comes first, that’s why I’m here,” he said.
Onana added, “Let people continue to criticize me. I’m used to it. I do what is good for my country.”
Onana has had a complicated relationship with Cameroon. He declined a call-up to the 2017 Cup of Nations finals, but did compete at the last edition two years ago. Additionally, just months after returning from a lengthy doping ban, he also competed in the last edition of the Cup of Nations.
He has also had a recent history of conflict with the national team, being sent home after one match during the last World Cup in Qatar. However, the row with coach Rigobert Song has since been resolved.
(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; editing by Pritha Sarkar)
