Andre Onana, Cameroon’s goalkeeper, has departed the country’s World Cup squad and will not play in the tournament again after being suspended by the country’s football organisation.
According to a source close to the player, Onana left the team hotel on Tuesday and travelled to the airport, with Paris as his first stop before continuing on to Cameroon’s capital, Yaounde.
The 26-year-old Inter Milan goalkeeper was replaced by Devis Epassy in Monday’s 3-3 tie with Serbia and was not named among the substitutes.
Cameroon’s football federation (Fecafoot) acted when Indomitable Lions coach Rigobert Song stated that established first-choice, Andre Onana had asked not to play their second Group G encounter, citing rumours of a spat between the duo in Qatar.
According to a statement from Andre Onana, he was not allowed to be on the ground to assist Cameroon in achieving the team’s aims.
“I have put all my efforts and energy into finding solutions to a situation that a footballer often experiences, but there has been no will on the other side,” Onana stated in a Twitter message.
“However, I always respect and support the decisions of the people in charge of pursuing the success of our team and country.”
“I always behaved in a way to lead the team to success in a good manner,” he added.
Andre Onana was temporarily removed from the group for disciplinary grounds, according to a statement posted by Fecafoot on Monday evening. He has 34 international caps and had started every game for the Central Africans this year before being benched against Serbia.
Fecafoot, now run by Song’s former teammate Samuel Eto’o, offered its entire support for the 46-year-old coach as he adopted a policy aimed at preserving discipline, solidarity, harmony, and cohesiveness with the national squad.
There are rumours that the coach and goalkeeper had a falling out over Onana’s habit of leaving his penalty area. During last Thursday’s 1-0 loss to Switzerland, Andre Onana had 26 touches of the ball outside the area.