Cameroon’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana, found himself conspicuously absent from the Indomitable Lions’ 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) opener against Guinea on Monday night, leaving fans curious about the reasons behind his omission.
The Manchester United star encountered a nightmarish journey after departing on a private jet following the Red Devils’ 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Criticism has befallen Onana, who, instead of promptly joining his Cameroon teammates ahead of the tournament, opted to extend his stay with United.
Having been a key player in United’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday, Onana’s travel plans were disrupted when his plane was forced to land in Abidjan due to fog in Yamoussoukro—the city hosting Cameroon’s AFCON opener.
The adverse weather conditions in Yamoussoukro left Onana stranded approximately 150 miles away, with only hours remaining before kick-off.
Despite eventually reaching the Charles Konan Banny Stadium before the match commenced, Andre Onana found himself omitted from Cameroon’s matchday squad.
In his absence, Cameroon coach Rigobert Song had to enlist the services of second-choice goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa, who stood between the goalposts during the five-time AFCON champions’ 1-1 draw against the Scorpions.