André Onana's return to Cameroon national team raises uncertainty for Manchester United
Posted : 06 September 2023
Sources indicate that André Onana has agreed to make a one-time return to the Cameroon national team for an AFCON qualifier against Burundi on September 12. However, his commitment beyond this single game remains uncertain, especially if Cameroon qualifies for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled to begin in Ivory Coast in January.
Onana had retired from international duty in December due to a dispute with head coach Rigobert Song, but his return for the upcoming qualifier was initiated by the Cameroon government's intervention. Despite his return for this match, sources suggest that he has not definitively committed to participating in the AFCON, even if the Indomitable Lions secure qualification.
This development is of particular interest to Manchester United, as Onana's potential involvement in the AFCON could result in the club losing their first-choice goalkeeper for up to a month. The AFCON tournament is scheduled from January 13 to February 11, during which time Manchester United has Premier League fixtures against Tottenham, Wolves, West Ham, and Aston Villa.
If Onana chooses to participate in the AFCON, Manchester United's manager, Erik ten Hag, may need to decide between summer signing Altay Bayindir and 37-year-old Tom Heaton as Onana's replacement.
Sources have revealed that Onana and his representatives informed Manchester United of his decision to play in the match against Burundi during a meeting at Carrington on Saturday. While the club was initially informed during the summer transfer negotiations that Onana had retired from international duty, sources indicate that Ten Hag understands and sympathizes with Onana's reasons for his decision to participate in the upcoming qualifier.
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