SUMMARY
- In 2023, Cameroon player Andre Onana came back from his retirement.
- There were reports of internal conflict between him and the President of the Cameroon Football Federation, Samuel Eto'o.
Manchester United and Cameroon’s international goalkeeper Andre Onana left his country’s team at the midway stage of the FIFA World Cup 2022. He was reportedly exiled from Cameroon’s team during the tournament. The 27-year-old, after the World Cup, decided to retire from international soccer.
Later in the year 2023, Cameroon player Andre Onana came back from his retirement. There were reports of internal conflict between him and the President of the Cameroon Football Federation, Samuel Eto’o. However, a recent report by ‘UtdDistrict’ on ‘X’ shed further light on the rumored feud between both personalities.
🔴📰 | The feud between Andre Onana and Cameroon FA president Samuel Eto’o is still ongoing.
It is said that they haven’t spoken since the World Cup, and that their relationship is broken and irreconcilable. [@ChrisWheelerDM] pic.twitter.com/HIEDFbEahM
— UtdDistrict (@UtdDistrict) January 21, 2024
It has been termed that the alleged feud between Cameroon goalkeeper Onana and the country’s soccer federation, President Samuel Eto’o, is still in place. The report further mentions that both of them have not been on any talking terms with each other since the FIFA World Cup 2022. Also, the relationship between them is considered to be quite irreconcilable.
Henry Njalla blamed Samuel Eto’o for Andre Onana’s exclusion from the Cameroon team
Former Cameroon international player Henry Njalla blamed Samuel Eto’o as the man behind Andre Onana’s exclusion from the Cameroon team. He also hinted at the Cameroonian soccer president, Samuel Eto’o, wanting to get rid of the goalkeeper.
Henry Njalla reportedly stated, “The star of the national team are being suffocated by someone (Samuel Eto’o) who was a star himself, and wants to remain star as a manager”. He further inflicted towards Samuel for being present in every meeting and training stint.
Henry expressed, “Even the coach feels suffocated by Eto’o’s presence”. From the words of Henry, it can be inferred that he terms the reason behind Samuel not liking Onana as the President’s ever-willing nature to remain the biggest star in the country’s soccer hierarchy himself.
Andre Onana missed Cameroon’s first AFCON clash despite reaching the match venue
Andre Onana took a bold decision to represent Manchester United in a Premier League match when his country’s first AFCON game was around the corner. However, after the United match, the goalkeeper decided to leave to play for Cameroon.
Cameroon’s Onana delays Afcon travel to play for Man Utdhttps://t.co/L7Qa1OTDyt
— Times LIVE (@TimesLIVE) January 11, 2024
His flight got severely delayed due to weather conditions. The 27-year-old then decided to cover the journey by road. However, when he reached the venue of the match, he came to know that he hadn’t been included in the team’s squad or the playing 11. Onana, however, was able to play in Cameroon’s next AFCON clash against Senegal.
His appearance didn’t make any major difference in the match result for his team. They ended up losing the game against Senegal 3-1. With this loss, Cameroon’s hope of qualifying for the last 16 of the tournament has almost vanished. It remains to be seen how things pan out for Andre Onana’s international career after the AFCON 2024.
