Manchester United's André Onana faces dilemma over AFCON participation amidst Premier League commitments

Posted : 06 October 2023

André Onana faces a challenging dilemma as he contemplates representing Cameroon at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in January. Sources close to the Manchester United goalkeeper reveal that he is hesitant to participate in the tournament due to concerns about his Premier League commitments at Old Trafford. This reluctance stems from a turbulent start to his career with the Red Devils, marked by a series of costly errors.

Onana's international hiatus began following a dispute with Cameroon's head coach, Rigobert Song, after the World Cup in Qatar. However, under pressure from the government and the Cameroon Football Association, he made a temporary return to the national team for the final AFCON qualifier against Burundi in September, where Cameroon secured their place in the tournament.

Despite this, the 27-year-old shot-stopper is wary of the potential month-long absence from the Premier League should he participate in AFCON. His foremost priority is to concentrate on his performance and commitment to Manchester United. This determination to make his mark with the club follows a challenging debut season that included high-profile errors, such as the costly blunder in a 4-3 defeat to Bayern Munich and a pivotal incident in the 3-2 loss to Galatasaray, which saw Casemiro sent off.

United's manager, Erik ten Hag, remains supportive of Onana, acknowledging his capabilities and resilience. Ten Hag believes that Onana, who has previously excelled in the Champions League with Ajax and Inter, has the potential to become one of the world's top goalkeepers. Despite earlier assurances to both Ten Hag and United's leadership during his £47.3 million move from Inter, Onana's current dilemma places his international future in question.

While Onana has been named in Cameroon's squad for upcoming games against Russia and Senegal during the October international break, discussions with officials are expected before he commits to representing his nation at AFCON. Ultimately, the goalkeeper faces a challenging decision, torn between his commitment to his new club and his international responsibilities with Cameroon.

Manchester United's André Onana faces dilemma over AFCON participation amidst Premier League commitments

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